Production of β-defensins by human airway epithelia

PK Singh, HP Jia, K Wiles… - Proceedings of the …, 1998 - National Acad Sciences
PK Singh, HP Jia, K Wiles, J Hesselberth, L Liu, BAD Conway, EP Greenberg, EV Valore…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1998National Acad Sciences
Human β-defensins (HBDs) are antimicrobial peptides that may play a role in mucosal
defense. Diminished activity of these peptides has been implicated in the pathogenesis of
cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. We show that HBD-1 and HBD-2 mRNAs are expressed in
excised surface and submucosal gland epithelia from non-CF and CF patients. The pro-
inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β stimulated the expression of HBD-2 but not HBD-1
mRNA and peptide in primary cultures of airway epithelia. HBD-1 was found in …
Human β-defensins (HBDs) are antimicrobial peptides that may play a role in mucosal defense. Diminished activity of these peptides has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. We show that HBD-1 and HBD-2 mRNAs are expressed in excised surface and submucosal gland epithelia from non-CF and CF patients. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β stimulated the expression of HBD-2 but not HBD-1 mRNA and peptide in primary cultures of airway epithelia. HBD-1 was found in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from normal volunteers, CF patients, and patients with inflammatory lung diseases, whereas HBD-2 was detected in BAL fluid from patients with CF or inflammatory lung diseases, but not in normal volunteers. Both HBD-1 and HBD-2 were found in BAL fluid in concentrations of several ng/ml, and both recombinant peptides showed salt-sensitive bactericidal activity. These data suggest that in the lung HBD-2 expression is induced by inflammation, whereas HBD-1 may serve as a defense in the absence of inflammation.
National Acad Sciences