Increased expression of human beta-defensin 3 in mollusca contagiosum.
The human beta defensins (hBDs)-2 and -3 are inducible antimicrobial peptides present in human skin. Besides an important role in fighting bacteria, they also have an antiviral function. Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a cutaneous viral disease caused by the MC virus. Lesions show a tendency towards spontaneous regression, which might be caused by antiviral proteins such as defensins. We report a marked increase in hBD-3 immunoreactivity in MC lesions in contrast to hBD-2, which was only marginally increased. We suggest a role for the hBD-3 peptide in MC pathogenesis.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany. umeyerhoffert@dermatology.uni-kiel.de
U
U
Meyer-Hoffert
T
T
Schwarz
J M
JM
Schröder
R
R
Gläser
D006801:Humans; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*
C422950:DEFB103A protein, human; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins