Expression of beta defensins in ocular surface tissue of experimentally developed allergic conjunctivitis mouse model.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of beta-defensin in the ocular surface of a mouse experimental allergic conjunctivitis (EAC) model.


METHODS
Mouse beta-defensin (mBD)-1 and -2 mRNA expressed in conjunctival tissue of both the EAC and the control group were analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. mBD-1 and mBD-2 mRNA expressed in cornea, limbus, and conjunctival epithelium of the EAC and the control group were also analyzed using a laser-assisted microdissection technique and the RT-PCR method.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the amount of mBD-1 between the EAC and the control group. However, the EAC group had significantly less mBD-2 (0.23 +/- 0.15 x 10(4) copy/microl) than the control group (3.61 +/- 4.87 x 10(4) copy/microl) (P < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test). mBD-1 mRNA was positive for all examined tissue in both groups. The expression of mBD-2 mRNA in the EAC group was definitely positive for the corneal and conjunctival epithelium and negative for the limbus.


CONCLUSIONS
mBD-2 mRNA was expressed significantly less in the EAC model than in the control. Analysis by site in the ocular surface tissue revealed that this reduction was caused by the diminished expression of mBD-2 in the limbus.
Ikeda
Ai
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. aill2@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Nakanishi
Yoko
Y
Sakimoto
Tohru
T
Shoji
Jun
J
Sawa
Mitsuru
M
Nemoto
Norimichi
N
D000818:Animals; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D004150:Dipeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
C120555:Defb1 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins; D004150:Dipeptidases; C475506:Dpep2 protein, mouse