Journal article
Human β-Defensin-1 mRNA Is Transcribed in Tympanic Membrane and Adjacent Auditory Canal Epithelium
Infection and immunity, Vol.67(9), pp.4843-4846
09/1999
DOI: 10.1128/iai.67.9.4843-4846.1999
PMCID: PMC96817
PMID: 10456939
Abstract
The external auditory canal is less susceptible to infections than the sensitive middle-ear cavity. Since recent research has provided insight to the production of potent antimicrobial peptides from various surface epithelia, we wanted to investigate whether protection of the external auditory canal in part could be explained by the production of human β-defensin-1 (HBD-1). This particular peptide is known to be constitutively expressed in various surface epithelia, such as airway, skin, and urogenital tissues. By reverse transcriptase PCR we demonstrate HBD-1 mRNA in the pars tensa and pars flaccida of the tympanic membrane and in the meatal skin. In situ hybridization studies localized the HBD-1 mRNA to the epidermal layer of these tissues. The HBD-1 transcripts were also evident in the sebaceous glands and in hair follicles of the meatal skin. In contrast, HBD-1 mRNA was not detected in the tympanal epithelium of the eardrum. The widespread presence of mRNA encoding for this broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide in the meatal skin and tympanic membrane suggests that HBD-1 participates in the innate antimicrobial defense of the external auditory canal and middle-ear cavity.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Human β-Defensin-1 mRNA Is Transcribed in Tympanic Membrane and Adjacent Auditory Canal Epithelium
- Creators
- Roald Bøe - Departments of Experimental PathologyJuha Silvola - Departments of Experimental PathologyJinghui Yang - Departments of Experimental PathologyUgo Moens - Departments of Experimental PathologyPaul B McCray - Departments of Experimental PathologyLars-Eric Stenfors - Departments of Experimental PathologyRolf Seljfelid - Departments of Experimental Pathology
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Infection and immunity, Vol.67(9), pp.4843-4846
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology
- DOI
- 10.1128/iai.67.9.4843-4846.1999
- PMID
- 10456939
- PMCID
- PMC96817
- ISSN
- 0019-9567
- eISSN
- 1098-5522
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/1999
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Pulmonary Medicine; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984093468202771
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