title: Presence of hBD-1 and hBD-2 in human cerumen and external auditory canal skin.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Human beta-defensin-1 (hBD-1) and human beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2) antimicrobial peptides present in the cerumen, which is composed of exfoliated epithelial keratin and gland secretion, might provide the first line of defense against microbes in external auditory canal (EAC) skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Cerumen (earwax) plays a primary role in protecting the EAC skin and tympanic membrane. Even though the protection by antimicrobial peptides present in the skin secretion has been well established, little is known about the intrinsic role of the peptides in the EAC skin and cerumen. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of important antimicrobial peptides, hBD-1 and hBD-2, in the cerumen and EAC skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cerumen was collected from 20 healthy adults, and the EAC skins were obtained from 12 patients who underwent middle ear surgery with canaloplasty. The presence of hBD-1 and hBD-2 was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the immunohistochemical study of the EAC skin, expression of hBD-1 and hBD-2 was observed in both the epithelium and the glands. The presence of hBD-1 and hBD-2 peptides in the cerumen was confirmed by Western blotting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeon-ju, Korea. yiyoon@chonbuk.ac.kr
authors.forename: Yong Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jin Woo Park
authors.forename: Eun Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002571:Cerumen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins