Valuation of Human,B-defensin 2 and 3 in sera of Helicobacter pylori infected patients

Abstract

In recent years, anti-microbial peptides have emerged as a critical component of host innate defense. These peptides are gene-encoded natural antibiotics expressed by immune and non-immune cell types including epithelia. Human beta defensin are disulphide linked, low molecular weight cationic peptides that are known to be a major components of innate immune defense mechanisms at mucosal surfaces. Their expression level differs between those that are constitutively expressed and those that are induced upon challenge with inflammatory or pathogen-derived stimuli. To date six members of the human-β-defensins (hBD1-6) family have been identified. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a pathogenic but noninvasive Gram-negative bacterium, appears to be unique in its adaptation to long-term survival in the acidic environment of human stomach. hBD3 as well hBD2 is known to be induced in gastric epithelial cells in infection by the H. pylori and may be involved in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated gastritis, possibly through its function as immune and inflammatory mediator. In our study we reported the analysis of HBD-2 and 3 in a sample sera of 45 patients by ELISA, the patients were divided as follows: 12 with an active infection, 11 uninfected, 11 with chronic infection and 11 that have eradicated the infection.