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Expression and regulation of human β‐defensin‐2 in osteoarthritic cartilage
Author(s) -
Varoga D,
Paulsen FP,
Kohrs S,
Grohmann S,
Lippross S,
Mentlein R,
Tillmann BN,
Goldring MB,
Besch L,
Pufe T
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1974
Subject(s) - defensin , cartilage , expression (computer science) , medicine , biology , pathology , anatomy , gene , genetics , computer science , programming language
Defensins are antibiotic peptides that are involved in host defence at epithelial and mesenchymal surfaces. Previous studies have shown the induction of human β‐defensin‐3 (HBD‐3) in osteoarthritic joints, suggesting that these molecules have functions in addition to their ability to kill microbes. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of a further human β‐defensin, named HBD‐2, in osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine its regulation by inflammatory cytokines. Healthy and osteoarthritic cartilage was assessed for HBD‐2 expression by RT‐PCR, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. C28/I2 chondrocytes, primary chondrocytes, and cartilage explants were cultured for in vitro studies. After 24 h of stimulation with tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) or IL‐6, real‐time RT‐PCR and ELISA experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of these cytokines on the production of HBD‐2. In contrast to healthy cartilage, HBD‐2 expression was identified in most of the OA samples examined (eight of ten). Cytokines that are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of OA, namely TNF‐α, IL‐1, and IL‐6, were transcriptional inducers of HBD‐2 in cultured chondrocytes and cartilage explants in vitro , as measured by real‐time RT‐PCR and ELISA. These results illustrate the induction of HBD‐2 in osteoarthritic cartilage and suggest that it is a further factor in the pathogenesis of OA. However, further studies are required to elucidate the role played by HBD‐2 in osteoarthritic cartilage. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.