RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of human β-defensin-3 (HBD-3) on proliferation and the secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1) in human gingival fibroblasts(HGF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HGF were cultured with tissue-explant method and the fourth-generation HGF were plated in 96-well plate. All groups except the control group were treated with different concentrations of HBD-3 for 7 days. Then the HGF proliferation was evaluated with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) colorimetry and the secretions of PGE2 and MMP-1 at the 12th hours of each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The result of MTT dynamic monitoring showed that the amount of HGF increased with time in all groups in concentration dependent manner.ELISA showed that the secretions of PGE2 and MMP-1 in 1.0 mg/L HBD-3 group were (350.56 ± 63.96) ng/L and (13.22 ± 0.59) µg/L, significantly higher than those in the control group and 10.0 mg/L HBD-3 group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HBD-3 promoted the proliferation of HGF. The low concentration of HBD-3 may play a role in immunoregulation through increasing the secretions of PGE2 and MMP-1.</p>