title: Human beta-defensin (hBD-1, -2) expression in dental pulp.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of human beta-defensins (hBD-1, -2) in dental pulps by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The mRNA transcripts of human beta-defensin-1 and human beta-defensin-2 could be detected by performing RT-PCR. With immunohistochemical staining of pulp tissue using antisera to hBD-1 and -2 it was possible to demonstrate cytoplasmic expression in odontoblasts. The results demonstrate that not only oral keratinocytes at the epithelial surface but also odontoblasts express human beta-defensins. Thus odontoblasts take part in the innate immune system and human beta-defensins may play an important role in the innate host defense of human dental pulp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Operative and Preventive Dentistry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. Henrik.Dommisch@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dommisch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Açil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunsche
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiemann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jepsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins