title: Differential expression pattern of antimicrobial peptides in nasal mucosa and secretion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The intact nasal barrier is a prerequisite for a functioning defense of the upper airway system, in particular the permanent threat by inhaled potentially harmful microorganisms. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) play an important role in maintaining barrier function. There is few data about AMP in respect of nasal mucosa. This study is addressed to gain further insight into the differential AMP expression and secretion pattern according to defined anatomical regions of the vestibulum nasi and turbinates.
  
  
  METHODS
  ELISA was applied to quantify concentrations of AMP RNase-7, psoriasin, hBD-2, hBD-3 and LL-37 in nasal secretions of 20 healthy volunteers. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the local cellular sources of AMP in the vestibulum nasi (squamous epithelium) and compared to the mucosa of the turbinates (pseudostratified epithelium) in 10 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of RNase 7 and psoriasin was detected in all nasal secretion specimens, whereas LL-37 was detected in 16, hBD-2 in 5 and hBD-3 in 6 specimens. In the vestibulum nasi, luminal cell layers were demonstrated as local cellular sources for hBD-3 and RNase 7, whereas psoriasin was found in all layers of the stratified squamous epithelium. LL-37 was detected in 1 stroma cells sample, whereas hBD-2 was not detected at all. In turbinate biopsie,s hBD-3 and LL-37 were detectable in the epithelium, stroma cells and submucosal glands. RNase 7 was only present in submucosal glands. HBD-2 and psoriasin were not detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data demonstrate that the nasal epithelium contains a chemical defense shield through the expression and secretion of various AMP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany. laudien@hno.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laudien
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dressel
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.forename: Regine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gläser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C422950:DEFB103A protein, human; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7; D009418:S100 Proteins; C089242:S100A7 protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins; D012260:Ribonucleases; C470000:Ribonuclease 7; D054804:Cathelicidins