Study on the mechanism of human-β-defensin-2 expression in human vaginal epithelial cells induced by Lactobacillus cell wall extract / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the molecular and cell signal transduction mechanisms by Lactobacillus cell wall extract(LCWE)inducing human-β-defensin-2(hBD-2)expression in human vaginal epithelial cells.Methods The induction of hBD-2 in human vaginal epithelial cells(WZV-1)by LCWE was observed using real-time PCR and Western blot.After stimulating WZV-1.the activation of NF-κB and p38MAPK signaling pathways were determined by Western blot.The induction of hBD-2 in WZV-1 cells by LCWE was observed with signaling pathways inhibitors of NF-κB and p38MAPK using real-time PCR and Western blot.Results The results showed that LCWE significantly upregulated hBD-2 expression in the time and dose-dependent manner.The maximal stimulatory effect of LCWE on the expression of hBD-2mRNA in WZV-1 cells were observed at the concentration of 50μg/ml after treatment for 8 h.After stimulation by 50μg/ml LCWE,Western blot analysis demonstrated that the phosphorylation of p38MAPK increased at 0.5 h significantly,peaked at 1 h,moreover the concentration of NF-κB in nucleus increased at 0.5 h significantly(P<0.05),peaked at 2 h.Blocking with inhibitor of NF-κB and(or)p38MAPK pathways results in decreased levels of HBD-2 expression.Conclusion These findings suggest that p38MAPK and NF-κB pathways play the important roles in induction of hBD-2 expression by LCWE in human vagihal epithelial cells.