J Korean Burn Soc.  2012 Jun;15(1):39-44.

The Expression of Human Beta Defensins by Thermal Injury

• Jeong HS
• Yeon CJ
• Lee JS

Abstract

PURPOSE
Defensins are important components of innate immune system. These peptides have antimicrobial activity against a wise variety of pathogens that associated with burn wound infection. In particular, human beta-defensins are expressed in normal epidermal region and showed differential expression of some skin disease. We investigated that expression of human beta-defensin by in vitro and ex-vivo by thermal condition.
METHODS
To investigate the expression of human beta-defensins in acute burn condition, we cultured keratinocytes and used to rat's skin at this experiment. After thermal condition, we showed the expression of beta-defensins-2 (hBD-2), -3 (hBD-3), keratins, keratinocyte differentiation and junction protein levels by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC).
RESULTS
HBD-2 & involucrin were down-regulated from 1 hr to 8 hrs in mRNA level. But others were not changed in mRNA level. In protein level, hBD-3 was decreased but pan-cytokeratin and beta-catenin were not changed.
CONCLUSION
HBD-2 was down-regulated in thermal injury. Because thermal injury could induce the influence of keratinocyte differentiation and the decrease of skin protection ability. Our results suggested that human beta-defensins plays an important role in protection by several injury.

Keyword

Thermal injury; Human beta defensins; Involucrin

MeSH Terms

beta Catenin
beta-Defensins
Burns
Defensins
Humans
Immune System
Immunohistochemistry
Keratinocytes
Keratins
Peptides
Protein Precursors
RNA, Messenger
Skin
Skin Diseases
Wound Infection
Defensins
Keratins
Peptides
Protein Precursors
RNA, Messenger
beta Catenin
beta-Defensins