The Expression Of Human β-defensin-3in Chronic Tonsillitis And Its Significance

Human defensins is one kind of cations antibacterial peptide and rich in Arginine, it can mainly divided into two classes:human alpha-defensins and human beta-defensins, all of them have broad spectrum antimicrobial activities and immunologic functions. And human defensins is one of an important micromolecule polypeptide and component of natural immune system. Because of its special antibacterial mechanism, the pathogenic microorganisms hardly to generate resistance to human defensins, more and more researchers put their attentions on the study of human defensins.Objective To examine the expression of human β-defensin3(hBD3)in specimens of chronic tonsillitis, to investigate the role of palatine tonsil in the inflammation and upper respiratory tract infection, and to provide the experiment and theory evidence for clinic treatment of chronic tonsillitisMethods Total RNA were extracted from twenty-five specimens of hyperplastic tonsils (n=10)and chronic tonsillitis(n=15),the expression levels of hBD3mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the expression position of hBD3in twenty-five specimens was identified by Immunohistochemistry(IHC), the expression levels of hBD3protein in twenty-five specimens was identified by Western blotting.Results1. HBD3mRNA was detected by RT-PCR in the specimen of chronic tonsillitis, but almost not in the control group;2. HBD3expression in cytoplasm of the squamous epithelia both in the chronic tonsillitis and in the control group, the expressive position is identical in both groups. The semi-quantitive analyses have been shown that the hBD3expression are negative or weakly positive in10specimens of control group, however, in15specimens of chronic tonsillitis,5specimens are strongly positive,5specimens are positive,2specimens are weakly positive,3specimens are negative, the statistical analysis show that hBD3expression is significant difference in both groups(p<0.05);3. Western blotting detection of expression of hBD3protein is observed positive strip in chronic tonsillitis, but almost not in the control group.Conclusion HBD3is an inducible expression in the tonsillitis tissues by chronic infections. These results suggest that hBD3may one of defensive mechanism in the upper respiratory tract infection; From the experimental results, we should seriously consider whether the patients with chronic tonsillitis need surgical treatment or not.