title: Neutrophil elastase up-regulates human beta-defensin-2 expression in human bronchial epithelial cells.
abstract: Human beta-defensin-2 (HBD-2) gene expression is induced by tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta and lipopolysaccharide. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of neutrophil elastase (NE), a major pro-inflammatory protease, on HBD-2 expression. HBD-2 gene expression was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in the human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE14o- and primary normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. Optimal HBD-2 expression was induced with 100 nM NE. Using a HBD-2-luciferase reporter construct, luciferase activity increased significantly in 16HBE14o- cells following incubation with NE. An increase in HBD-2 protein expression was observed in primary NHBE cells after incubation with NE as assessed by laser scanning cytometry. In conclusion, NE up-regulates HBD-2 expression in bronchial epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Clifford C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Noel G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: McElvaney
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase