Expression of Human beta-defensin mRNA in Epidermal Proliferative Diseases / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Defensins are cationic antimicrobial peptides with a wide range of antimicrobial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and viruses. They are also believed to promote a rapid cellular immune response to infection via chemotactic effect on monocyte. In addition to their antimicrobial actions, defensins may accelerate wound healing by virtue of their mitogenic effect on epithelial cells and fibroblasts. OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to investigate the characterization of human beta-defensin (hBD)-1, -2 and -3 mRNA expression in epidermal proliferative diseases. METHODS: The level of expression of hBD-1, -2 and -3 mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) assay and densitometry in epidermal proliferative diseases. RESULTS: hBD-1, -3 mRNAs were expressed in normal human epidermis and more readily detectable in epidermal proliferative diseases such as psoriasis vulgaris, prurigo nodularis, proliferative lichen planus, lichen simplex chronicus. But the expression of hBD-1 mRNA in psoriasis vulgaris mRNA was not significantly increased. hBD-2 mRNA was not detected in normal human epidermis and epidermal proliferative diseases with the exception of psoriasis vulgaris. CONCLUSION: These expressions of human beta defensin mRNAs in the epidermal proliferative diseases suggest that human beta defensin may have a close relationship with skin inflammations.