Up-regulation of Cathelicidin in Chronic Sialadenitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Salivary secretions and the secreted IgA in the secretions play a critical role in maintaining oral health via innate host defense mechanism. Cathelicidins are a family of peptides thought to provide an innate defensive barrier against a variety of potential microbial pathogens. LL-37, an antimicrobial peptide, is the only Cathelicidin protein so far identified in humans. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of Cathelicidin in human salivary glands and to investigate upregulation of Cathelicidin in inflammatory conditions. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining were performed on 20 salivary gland tissues, of which 10 were normal and 10 were chronic sialadenitis. RESULTS: Cathelicidin mRNA transcripts were detected in the normal salivary glands and chronic sialadenitis. The level of Cathelicidin mRNA in chronic sialadenitis was significantly increased compared with that in the normal salivary gland. Cathelicidin protein was expressed in the glandular epithelium of the normal salivary gland and chronic sialadenitis. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that Cathelicidin might play an important role in the innate host defense of human salivary glands.