title: Association between human beta defensin expression and cholesteatoma formation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate an association between human beta defensin (hBD) expression and cholesteatoma formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  hBD-2 mRNA expressions were assessed in healthy external acoustic meatus skin organ cultures before and after stimulation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, hBD-1 and hBD-2 protein production of stimulated and non-stimulated external acoustic meatus skin was visualized by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, hBD-1 and hBD-2 mRNA expression was analyzed in 25 external acoustic meatus skin, 29 cholesteatoma, and 18 non-cholesteatoma control samples. Non-stimulated meatal tissue preparation did not express hBD-2, whereas incubation with P. aeruginosa demonstrated hBD-2 induction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hBD-1 mRNA expression was detected in cholesteatoma (14/17), meatal skin, and middle ear mucosa (11/18). hBD-2 mRNA expression was shown in eight cholesteatoma (28.5%) and in three middle ear mucosa tissue samples (37.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest constitutional hBD-1 and inducible hBD-2 expression in chronic middle ear infection and cholesteatoma. Failure of hBD-1 and hBD-2 expression might dispose to exacerbation of cholesteatoma disease. The organ culture model of the external acoustic meatus skin is effective in order to evaluate germ stimulation experiments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany. jens.meyer@hno.uni-luebeck.de
authors.forename: Jens Eduard
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwaab
authors.forename: Ulf Henning
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Beier
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Görögh
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buchelt
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frese
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maune
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D023082:Defensins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048348:Reverse Transcription / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D023082:Defensins; D012333:RNA, Messenger