TY - JOUR
T1 - Antimicrobial defensin peptides of the human nasal mucosa
AU - Sang, Hag Lee
AU - Jung, Eun Kim
AU - Hyun, Ho Lim
AU - Heung, Man Lee
AU - Jong, Ouck Choi
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Defensins, a prominent group of antimicrobial peptides, are an important component of the innate immune response, particularly at mucosal surfaces that are vulnerable to colonization by potential pathogens. The present study was undertaken to investigate the expression of defensins in inferior turbinate mucosa of normal subjects and inferior turbinate mucosa and nasal polyps of patients with chronic sinusitis. Expression of β-defensin 1 and 2 and α-defensin 5 and 6 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and their expression level was semiquantitatively evaluated by dot blot hybridization. Immunohistochemical analysis was used for detection of α-defensins 1, 2, and 3 in tissue sections. β-Defensin 1 mRNA was expressed in all tissue samples, at levels that did not differ significantly. β-Defensin 2 mRNA was detected in the turbinate mucosa and nasal polyps of patients with chronic sinusitis, but not in normal mucosa. Its expression level was significantly higher in nasal polyps than in turbinate mucosa. α-Defensin 5 and 6 mRNAs were not expressed in any tissues, but α-defensins 1, 2, and 3 were detected in all tissue samples obtained from patients with chronic sinusitis. These results suggest that β-defensin 1 may play a constitutive role in nasal defenses, whereas α-defensins 1, 2, and 3 and β-defensin 2 may be induced in response to local infection or inflammation.
AB - Defensins, a prominent group of antimicrobial peptides, are an important component of the innate immune response, particularly at mucosal surfaces that are vulnerable to colonization by potential pathogens. The present study was undertaken to investigate the expression of defensins in inferior turbinate mucosa of normal subjects and inferior turbinate mucosa and nasal polyps of patients with chronic sinusitis. Expression of β-defensin 1 and 2 and α-defensin 5 and 6 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and their expression level was semiquantitatively evaluated by dot blot hybridization. Immunohistochemical analysis was used for detection of α-defensins 1, 2, and 3 in tissue sections. β-Defensin 1 mRNA was expressed in all tissue samples, at levels that did not differ significantly. β-Defensin 2 mRNA was detected in the turbinate mucosa and nasal polyps of patients with chronic sinusitis, but not in normal mucosa. Its expression level was significantly higher in nasal polyps than in turbinate mucosa. α-Defensin 5 and 6 mRNAs were not expressed in any tissues, but α-defensins 1, 2, and 3 were detected in all tissue samples obtained from patients with chronic sinusitis. These results suggest that β-defensin 1 may play a constitutive role in nasal defenses, whereas α-defensins 1, 2, and 3 and β-defensin 2 may be induced in response to local infection or inflammation.
KW - Defensin
KW - Inferior turbinate
KW - Nasal polyp
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U2 - 10.1177/000348940211100205
DO - 10.1177/000348940211100205
M3 - Article
C2 - 11860065
AN - SCOPUS:0036162234
VL - 111
SP - 135
EP - 141
JO - Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
JF - Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
SN - 0003-4894
IS - 2
ER -