title: Expression of human beta-defensin 2 in human nasal mucosa.
abstract: Human beta-defensin (HBD)-2, an antimicrobial peptide, has been discovered to be produced by a number of epithelial cells. It is identified as a key element in the innate host defense mechanism. Because little is known about the expression of HBD-2 in the human sinonasal tract, we conducted this study to investigate the expression of the HBD-2 mRNA gene by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and localization of HBD-2 peptide by immunohistochemistry in human nasal inferior turbinates and nasal polyps. RT-PCR showed significantly higher expression of HBD-2 mRNA in nasal polyps than in inferior turbinates. Using immunohistochemistry, HBD-2 peptide was predominantly localized in surface epithelial cells. Thus, it is feasible that HBD-2 is expressed in nasal mucosa and is upregulated in a condition of chronic inflammation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D011336:Probability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins