title: Induction of human β-defensins and psoriasin in vulvovaginal human papillomavirus-associated lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infections with a low-risk type of human papillomavirus (HPV) may lead to genital warts. HPV targets the basal cell layer of epithelial cells. The first line of defense is the innate immune system, which provides nonspecific protection against a variety of pathogens. The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) α- and β-defensins, cathelicidins, psoriasin, and RNase7 are central mediators.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of various α- and β-defensins, cathelicidin LL-37, psoriasin, and RNase7 was studied in biopsy samples from 35 patients with genital warts and 25 healthy women using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significantly higher expression of the β-defensins hBD-1 (P = .03), hBD-2 (P < 0.01), and hBD-3 (P < .001), and psoriasin (P = .001) in condylomata acuminata, compared with normal controls. The RNA and protein levels of RNase7 did not differ between infected and uninfected samples (P = .55). The α-defensins HNP 1-3, HD5, and HD6 and the cathelicidin LL-37 were scarcely detectable in normal and infected tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differing expression of AMPs in HPV-infected, compared with noninfected, vulvovaginal biopsy samples suggests that these peptides are important in the local immune response. Curiously, hBD-1 shows a significant induction whereas RNase7 does not, which suggests differing regulation of AMPs over the course of bacterial and viral infections.
authors: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Erhart
authors: Ö
authors: Ö
authors: Alkasi
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Brunke
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Wegener
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Maass
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Arnold
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Arlt
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Meinhold-Heerlein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology*; D014844:Vulva / Q000276:immunology*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7; D009418:S100 Proteins; C089242:S100A7 protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins; D012260:Ribonucleases; C470000:Ribonuclease 7; D054804:Cathelicidins