title: Beta-Defensin 124 Is Required for Efficient Innate Immune Responses in Prostate Epithelial RWPE-1 Cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to determine the role played by β-defensin 124 (DEFB124) in the innate immunity of prostate epithelial RWPE-1 cells during bacterial infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of DEFB124 was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blotting, and immunocytochemistry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to determine the production of cytokines and chemokines. Western blotting and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies were performed to assess the interaction between DEFB124 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in peptidoglycan (PGN)-stimulated RWPE-1 cells. By chemotaxis assay, we assessed the effect of DEFB124 on the migration of monocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure to PGN induced DEFB124 upregulation and NF-κB activation through IκBα phosphorylation and IκBα degradation. Bay11-7082, an NF-κB inhibitor, blocked PGN-induced DEFB124 production. Also, NF-κB was shown to be a direct regulator and to directly bind to the -3.14 kb site of the DEFB124 promoter in PGN-treated human prostate epithelial RWPE-1 cells. When DEFB124 was overexpressed in RWPE-1 cells, interestingly, the production of cytokines (interleukin [IL] 6 and IL-12) and chemokines (CCL5, CCL22, and CXCL8) was significantly increased. These DEFB124-upregulated RWPE-1 cells markedly induced chemotactic activity for THP-1 monocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these results provide strong evidence for the first time that increased DEFB124 expression via NF-κB activation in PGN-exposed RWPE-1 cells enhances the production of cytokines and chemokines, which may contribute to an efficient innate immune defense.
authors: Research Institute for Translational System Biomics, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyeoung-Hwa
authors: KH
authors: Kim
authors: Research Institute for Translational System Biomics, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jaehyouk
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Urology, Hallym University Dontan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hwaseong, Korea.
authors: Jun Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Han
authors: Research Institute for Translational System Biomics, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Urology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Soon Chul
authors: SC
authors: Myung
keywords: Chemotaxis; Cytokines/chemokines; Defensins; Innate immunity; NF-kappa B