Correlated expression of human beta defensin-1, -2 and -3 mRNAs in gingival tissues of young children

Arch Oral Biol. 2004 Oct;49(10):799-803. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2004.04.012.

Abstract

Objective: Human beta-defensins (hBDs) are a group of antimicrobial peptides, expressed by the epithelial cells of many organs including gingival epithelium. The present study examined correlation between the gene expressions of hBD-1, -2, -3 mRNAs and the inflammatory cytokines in human gingival tissues.

Study design: The gingival tissues were obtained from surgical discards from 20 different patients (age range, 5-13 years). The expression levels of mRNAs were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR with LightCycler. The mRNA expression levels were normalized with those of keratin 10 mRNA. The data were statistically analysed using Person's correlation coefficient.

Results: The expression levels of hBD-1,-2 and -3 were significantly correlated with each other and also correlated with that of TNF-alpha.

Conclusions: The results indicate that the expression levels of hBDs vary from one individual to another.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Infective Agents / analysis*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gingiva / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-8 / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / analysis
  • beta-Defensins / analysis*
  • beta-Defensins / genetics
  • beta-Defensins / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • DEFB1 protein, human
  • DEFB103A protein, human
  • DEFB4A protein, human
  • Interleukin-8
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • beta-Defensins