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Increased expression of beta-defensin-2 and -3 during the development of autoimmune sialoadenitis in MRL/lpr mice.

beta-Defensins (BD) are small cationic antimicrobial peptides that produced principally in the epithelial cells of a number of organs. The present study analyzed the expression patterns of BD-1, -2, and -3 during the development of sialoadenitis in MRL/lpr mice. Submandibular glands were dissected from MRL/lpr mice at 4, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 weeks of age. The expression of mouse (m) BD-1, -2, and -3 mRNAs was examined by RT-PCR and quantified using TaqMan real-time RT-PCR. No significant differences in the level of expression of mBD-1 were observed among mice of different ages. The level of expression of mBD-2 was significantly higher at 16 weeks than at 4 or 8 weeks. The expression level of mBD-3 was highest in 14-week-old mice and was significantly higher than in 4-week or 16-week-old animals. Immunohistochemical staining showed that BD-3 was clearly localized in the ductal cells with variable intensities. In the center of the foci of lymphatic infiltration, ductal staining was faint or often not present. The results indicate that BD-2 and -3 may be upregulated during the development of autoimmune sialoadenitis.