title: Effect of allergic rhinitis on the expression of human β-defensin 2 in tonsils.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human β-defensins (HBDs) are a newly identified family of antimicrobial peptides that are expressed by epithelia on mucosal surfaces. Exposure of airway epithelial cells to TH2-type cytokines results in a significant decrease in the antimicrobial activity of the cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of allergic rhinitis on the expression of HBD-2 in tonsils and adenoids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Palatine tonsils and adenoids were obtained from 30 patients with no history of recurrent tonsillitis. The patients were divided into 2 groups: allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis groups. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to measure messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of HBD-2 mRNA in tonsil and adenoid tissue samples from the 2 patient groups. Immunofluorescent staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to evaluate the expression of HBD-2 protein in tonsil and adenoid tissues. The concentration of the cytokines interleukin (IL) 4, IL-5, and interferon γ (IFN-γ) in tissue homogenates was measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunofluorescent staining data demonstrated the expression of HBD-2 protein in the surface epithelia of tonsils, and a marked difference in the staining intensity was observed the between 2 groups. HBD-2 mRNA and protein levels in the tonsils were significantly lower in the allergic rhinitis group than that in the nonallergic rhinitis group (P = .03 and P = .04, respectively). IL-5 and IFN-γ were not detected, and no significant difference was found in IL-4 concentrations in tonsil homogenates between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic rhinitis suppresses HBD-2, an epithelial antimicrobial peptide, in the tonsils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ik Joon
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chae-Seo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Chul Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology*; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins