Differential Induction of Human Beta-Defensin Expression by Periodontal Commensals and Pathogens in Periodontal Pocket Epithelial Cells

Background: To investigate the possible role of beta-defensins in gingival health and periodontal disease, we examined the effect of several stimuli on the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), human β-defensin-1, -2, -3, and -4 (hBD) in primary human diseased gingival epithelial (HGE) cell cultures from periodontitis patients by quantitative TaqMan reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Methods: Several strains of the periodontopathogens Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were added to the cells, as well as the oral commensal bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum and Escherichia coli. The induction by the proinflammatory stimuli phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was also tested. Results: In addition to the published observations (PMA induces hBD-2 and -4; TNF-α induces hBD-2 and -3), it was found that PMA can upregulate hBD-1 and hBD-3, whereas TNF-α can induce hBD-4. The commensal bacteria were significant inducers of...