The Expression of beta-defensin 1 in Various Skin Tumors

Cho, Hong Ki; Whang, Kyu Uang; Park, Young Lip; Lee, Jong Suk

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Among antimicrobial peptides produced by keratinocytes, beta-defensins and LL-37 are the major human antimicrobial peptides. Because beta-defensins have recently received great attention for its roles associated with host defense and cancer development, we hypothesized that beta-defensin 1 has an influence on the differentiation and malignant changes of various skin tumors originating from keratinocytes and malignant melanomas.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to measure the expression of beta-defensin 1 in different skin tumors.
METHODS
The expression of beta-defensin 1 was examined by immunohistochemical staining of 57 specimens of skin tumors including 12 cases of seborrheic keratosis, 4 cases of keratoacanthoma, 12 cases of actinic keratosis, 10 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 16 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 3 cases of malignant melanoma.
RESULTS
Immunohistochemical analysis of skin tumor tissue samples revealed significantly higher expression of beta-defensin 1 in benign skin tumors (seborrheic keratoses, keratoacanthomas) and premalignant lesions (actinic keratoses) than in malignant tumors (squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, and malignant melanomas). Among malignant tumors, basal cell carcinomas and malignant melanomas showed lower expression of beta-defensin 1 than squamous cell carcinomas, in which their expression was shown to be decreased with increased dysplasia of the tumor cells.
CONCLUSION
These findings showed that beta-defensin 1 has a negative association with malignancies of skin tumors. The role of beta-defensin 1 is suggested in the protection of malignant changes including loss of differentiation and dysplasia in skin tumors.