The expression of human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in the human nasal mucosa.
BACKGROUND
LL-37, 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 LL-37 in human sinonasal tract, we conducted this study to investigate the expression of LL-37 in human nasal mucosa.


METHODS
We investigated the expression of LL-37 gene by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and localization of LL-37 peptide by immunohistochemistry in the inferior turbinate mucosa of 7 normal subjects and the nasal polyps of 12 patients with chronic paranasal sinusitis.


RESULTS
The transcripts of the LL-37 gene were detected in all human nasal tissues analyzed by RT-PCR. There is a significant increase of LL-37 mRNA expression in nasal polyps as compared with the normal nasal mucosa. Using immunohistochemistry, LL-37 peptide was localized in surface epithelial cells and submucosal glands.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that LL-37 is expressed by nasal mucosa and is upregulated during inflammation.
Chen
Po-Hsu
PH
Department of Otolaryngology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Fang
Sheen-Yie
SY
D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014420:Turbinates / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D054804:Cathelicidins
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins