Investigation of the possibility of human-beta defensin 2 (hBD2) as a molecular marker of gastric mucosal inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
It has previously been reported that human-beta defensin 2 (hBD2) has a physiological role as a proinflammatory mediator in gastric mucosal inflammation as well as an antimicrobial peptide for Helicobacter pylori (Hp). The present study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of hBD2 as a molecular marker of gastric mucosal inflammation.


METHODS
The subjects were 40 A1 to S2 gastric ulcer patients, with or without Hp infection. Biopsy specimens of the mucosa were obtained endoscopically before and after the administration of lansoprazole (LPZ) (15mg/day) or famotidine (FAM) (40 mg/day or 20 mg/day), consecutively, and each set of samples was divided into two groups; one group was subjected to RT-PCR to assess the expression of hBD2, and the other was subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for evaluating the expression of CD68.


RESULTS
The expression of hBD2 was observed through the stage of gastric ulcer, from A1 to S1, regardless of the presence or absence of Hp infection, both before and after LPZ or FAM administration, and its intensity of expression decreasing as the number of CD68-positive cells decreased. The number of CD68-positive cells deceased as the severity of the ulcer increased from stage A1 to S2, regardless of the presence/absence of Hp infection. CD68-positive cells could hardly be observed in stage S2 gastric ulcers, in which hBD2 expression was also only scarcely noted.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested the possibility that hBD2 may be a molecular marker of gastric mucosal inflammation, irrespective of the presence/absence of Hp infection.
Ohara
Tadashi
T
Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba Hospital, Chiba, Japan. tohara@tdc.ac.jp
Morishita
Tetsuo
T
Suzuki
Hidekazu
H
Masaoka
Tatsuhiro
T
Nishizawa
Toshihiro
T
Hibi
Toshifumi
T
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D023083:beta-Defensins; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human