Effect of human beta-defensin-3 on head and neck cancer cell migration using micro-fabricated cell islands.

BACKGROUND: To examine the effect of the natural antimicrobial peptide human ß-defensin-3 (hBD-3), on the migration of a head and neck cancer cell line in vitro using microfabrication and soft-lithographic techniques. METHODS: TR146 cancer cells were seeded in Petri dishes with microfabricated wells for cell migration assays. Total 54 cell islands were used of various shape and size and experimental media type. Cell migration assays were analyzed in six group media: Dulbecco's modified medium (DMEM); DMEM with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); Conditioned media of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 239) expressing hBD-3 via transfected cloned pcDNA3 as CM/hBD-3; CM/hBD-3+ VEGF; conditioned medium from non-transfected HEK 239 (not expressing hBD-3) as control (CM); and the last group was CM + VEGF. Cell islands were circular or square and varied in size (0.25 mm(2), 0.125 mm(2), and 0.0625 mm(2)). Cell islands were imaged at t=0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 24 h. RESULTS: The results show cancer cell islands that originally were smaller had higher migration indices. There was no difference of MIs between circular and square cell islands. MIs at the end point were significantly different among the groups except between CM and CM-hBD-3+ VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF enhanced cancer cell migration. The combination of DMEM and VEGF showed a synergistic effect on this phenomenon of cancer cell migration. Conditioned medium with hBD-3 suppressed cancer cell migration. hBD-3 suppressed VEGF enhancement of TR146 cancer cell migration.

Association between periodontal disease and prostate-specific antigen levels in chronic prostatitis patients.

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an inflammatory marker produced by the epithelial cells of the prostate acini. In the presence of inflammation or malignancy of the prostate, PSA levels are > or = 4 ng/ml. This preliminary study was conducted to evaluate any association between periodontitis and PSA levels in chronic prostatitis patients. METHODS: Thirty-five subjects who underwent prostate biopsy because of abnormal findings on digital rectal examination or elevated PSA (> or = 4 ng/ml) participated in the study. Plaque and gingival indices, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level (CAL) were determined. Two-sided independent sample t tests assessed any significant differences in the PSA levels between and among the groups of prostatitis and periodontitis. RESULTS: Mean PSA levels were significantly higher (P = 0.04) in subjects with moderate/severe prostate inflammation than those with none/mild (8.8 +/- 5.8 versus 5.7 +/- 3.1 ng/ml). Subjects with CAL > or = 2.7 mm had higher but not statistically significant PSA levels than those with CAL <2.7 mm (7.7 +/- 5.2 versus 5.7 +/- 3.2 ng/ml), respectively. Individuals having both moderate/severe prostatitis and CAL > or = 2.7 mm (10.8 +/- 7 ng/ml) had significantly higher mean PSA levels (P = 0.05) than those with neither condition (5.6 +/- 3.7 ng/ml) nor only CAL > or = 2.7 mm (5.7 +/- 2.4 ng/ml) or moderate/severe prostatitis (6 +/- 1.9 ng/ml). CONCLUSION: Subjects having comorbidity of CAL > or = 2.7 mm and moderate/severe prostatitis have higher PSA levels than those with either condition alone.