Expression of the human β-defensin-2 induced by lipopolysaccharide and proinflammatory cytokines in human primary epitheliums

Objective To observe the mRNA and protein expression of human β-defensin-2(hBD-2) induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS),interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in human airway primary epitheliums and to explore the role of hBD-2 in the native host defence of respiratory system.Methods The bronchial primary epitheliums from human being were stimulated with LPS,IL-1β and TNF-α respectively,then were harvested for hBD-2 expression detection.The mRNA expression of hBD-2 was detected by RT-PCR while the protein expression by immunocytochemistry and western blot.Results There was a weak expression of hBD-2 mRNA in human airway primary epitheliums before stimulation.The hBD-2 mRNA expression was significantly increased after 3 hours of LPS,IL-1β and TNF-α stimulation,respectively and the expression induction was in a dose dependent manner.The hBD-2 protein could be detected in cytoplasm after 4 hours of LPS(0.1 μg/mL),IL-1β(1 ng/mL) and TNF-α(10 ng/mL) stimulation.Conclusions LPS and proinflammatory cytokines can induce the mRNA and protein expression of hBD-2 in a short time.The expression of hBD-2 may play an initial defensive role against bacterial invasion.