title: [New finding of the expression of human beta defensin-4 in healthy gingiva].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression and the distribution of human beta defensin (hBD)-4 in healthy gingiva.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy gingival specimens were collected. The expression of hBD-4 peptides in 18 gingival specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry. The hBD-4 mRNA were determined in freshly isolated gingival tissue by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR) in 30 gingival specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 18 gingival specimens, hBD-4 peptides were expressed in 13 gingival specimens. In 30 gingival specimens, hBD-4 were detected in 4 gingival specimens by real time RT-PCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution and the expression levels of hBD-4 are different in healthy gingiva. This result may suggest that the hBD-4 play a role in maintaining the periodontal health.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Dept. of Periodontology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Xinyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dingyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Panpan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D005881:Gingiva; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins
chemical_list: C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins