In vitro studies on the antimicrobial peptide human beta-defensin 9 (HBD9): signalling pathways and pathogen-related response (an American Ophthalmological Society thesis).

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Human β-defensins (HBDs) are an important part of the innate immune host defense at the ocular surface. Unlike other defensins, expression of HBD9 at the ocular surface is reduced during microbial infection, but activation of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in corneal epithelial cells has been shown to up-regulate HBD9. Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that TLR2 has a key role in the signalling pathway(s) involved in the overexpression or underexpression of HBD9, and accordingly, different pathogens would induce a different expression pattern of HBD9.

Methods

The in vitro RNAi silencing method and response to dexamethasone were used to determine key molecules involved in signalling pathways of HBD9 in immortalized human corneal epithelial cells. The techniques incl

SUBMITTER: Dua HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4311673 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature