Vol. 26, No. 4, 2004 (December)
	Content

HUMAN BETA-DEFENSIN 3 (hBD-3) EXPRESSION IN A431 CELL LINE AND HUMAN VULVAL TUMORS

ladimir M. Shnitsar¹, Igor L. Lisovskiy¹, Maria A. Soldatkina¹,

¹R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimenthal Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv 03022, Ukraine
²Institute of Oncology, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kiyv 03022, Ukraine

Abstract. The present work was aimed on the study of human beta-defensin 3 (hBD-3) gene expression in A431 cell line and human vulval tumors. Materials and methods: Twenty surgical specimens of both malignant and conventionally normal human vulval tissues have been analyzed for the presence of hBD-3 mRNA by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In vitro experiments have been carried out on A431 cells. Results: It has been shown that hBD-3 gene expression in A431 cells was induced upon EGF stimulation. In human vulval tissues, in 8 cases the expression of hBD-3 gene was registered only in tumor tissue and was absent in paired controls, and 7 cases were characterized by significant increase of hBD-3 gene expression in malignant transformed epithelium in comparison with normal ones. Remaining surgical specimens showed either equal levels of hBD-3 expression or even moderate elevation of hBD-3 expression in normal tissue. In 2 specimens of tumor tissue hBD-3 mRNA was not observed. Conclusion: In human vulval epithelium, the increase in hBD-3 mRNA expression was predominantly associated with malignant phenotype.

Key Words: human beta-defensin 3, vulval tumor, malignant transformation, epidermal growth factor, A431 cell line, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

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