title: Upregulation of human β-defensin-3 and cathelicidin LL-37 in Kaposi's sarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare neoplasm of lymphatic endothelial cells. Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) is considered to be a necessary, but not sufficient causal agent of KS and additional cofactors remain unknown. In this study we evaluated the expression of human β defensin (HBD)-3 and LL-37 in cutaneous lesions of KS in comparison to the healthy skin of normal subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a quantitative immunohistochemical study of HBD-3 and LL-37 on skin lesions from 18 patients having KS, and on healthy skin from 12 normal controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBD-3 and LL-37 were significantly upregulated in epidermal and dermal specimens of all KS patients in comparison to normal skin of healthy controls. The immunostaining score of dermal HBD-3 was significantly higher in nodular lesions (9.6 ± 2.4) versus plaque lesions (4.1 ± 2.2), P = 0.001. Also the immunostaining score of dermal LL-37 was significantly higher in nodular lesions versus plaque lesions (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have demonstrated for the first time that HBD-3 and LL-37 are significantly upregulated in lesional skin of KS in comparison to the skin of healthy controls. The obtained data suggest a possible involvement of these antimicrobial peptides in the pathogenesis of KS. However, the biological significance of HBD-3 and LL-37 in KS lesions needs further research.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fathy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdel-Hady
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: El-Gilany