title: Radiotherapy for oral cancer decreases the cutaneous expression of host defence peptides.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial resistance against antibiotics has become an increasing challenge in the treatment of cutaneous infections. Consequences can be severe, especially in infected wounds following previous local radiotherapy. Certain endogenous peptide antibiotics, the host defence peptides (HDPs), exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and promote wound healing. Their use as supplements to conventional antibiotics is a current topic of discussion; however, knowledge of their quantities in healthy and compromised tissue is a prerequisite for such discussion. To date, no data concerning HDP quantities in irradiated skin are available.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression profiles of the genes encoding HDPs, namely human beta-defensin-1 (DEFB1, hBD-1), beta-defensin-2 (DEFB4A, hBD-2), beta-defensin-3 (DEFB103, hBD-3) and S100A7, were assessed in samples of non-irradiated and irradiated neck.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A reduction in the expression of all of the examined genes was observed in irradiated skin when compared with non-irradiated skin (statistically significant in the case of S100A7, P = 0.013). Immunohistochemistry revealed differences in HDP distribution with respect to the epithelial layers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrates a significant reduction in HDP gene expression in neck skin as a result of radiotherapy. These findings might represent a starting point for novel treatments of cutaneous infections in irradiated patients, such as topical supplementation of synthetic HDP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: steffen.koerdt@tum.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koerdt
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, European Medical School at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Evangelisches Krankenhaus, Steinweg 13-15, 26122 Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinstraesser
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoeckelhuber
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Southern General Hospital, 1345 Govan Road, Glasgow G51 4TF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wales
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Rohleder
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Technische Universität München, Trogerstr. 18, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Babaryka
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: K-D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Loeffelbein
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muecke
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieberler
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kesting
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7; D009418:S100 Proteins; C089242:S100A7 protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins
keywords: Antimicrobial; Beta-defensin; Innate immunity; Oral cancer; Psoriasin; Radiation therapy