Presence of hBD-1 and hBD-2 in human cerumen and external auditory canal skin.
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.
Yoon
Yong Joo
YJ
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
Jin Woo Park
Jin Woo
JW
Lee
Eun Jung
EJ
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*
C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins