title: Airway β-Defensin-1 Protein Is Elevated in COPD and Severe Asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Innate immune antimicrobial peptides, including β-defensin-1, promote the chemotaxis and activation of several immune cells. The role of β-defensin-1 in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Induced sputum was collected from healthy controls and individuals with asthma or COPD. β-defensin-1 protein in sputum supernatant was quantified by ELISA. Biomarker potential was examined using receiver operating characteristic curves. β-defensin-1 release from primary bronchial epithelial cells (pBECs) was investigated in culture with and without cigarette smoke extract (CSE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Airway β-defensin-1 protein was elevated in COPD participants compared to asthma participants and healthy controls. Inflammatory phenotype had no effect on β-defensin-1 levels in asthma or COPD. β-defensin-1 protein was significantly higher in severe asthma compared to controlled and uncontrolled asthma. β-defensin-1 protein could predict the presence of COPD from both healthy controls and asthma patients. Exposure of pBECs to CSE decreased β-defensin-1 production in healthy controls; however in pBECs from COPD participants the level of β-defensin-1 remanied unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated β-defensin-1 protein is a feature of COPD and severe asthma regardless of inflammatory phenotype. β-defensin-1 production is dysregulated in the epithelium of patients with COPD and may be an effective biomarker and potential therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia ; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Baines
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia ; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia ; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Jodie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia ; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Vanessa M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia ; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia ; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Kristy S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia ; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wark
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia ; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins