Regulation of human beta-defensin-2 in gingival epithelial cells: the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, but not the NF-kappaB transcription factor family.

Stratified epithelia of the oral cavity are continually exposed to bacterial challenge that is initially resisted by neutrophils and epithelial factors, including antimicrobial peptides of the beta-defensin family. Previous work has shown that multiple signaling pathways are involved in human beta-defensin (hBD)-2 mRNA regulation in human gingival epithelial cells stimulated with a periodontal bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and other stimulants. The goal of this study was to further characterize these pathways. The role of NF-kappaB in hBD-2 regulation was investigated initially due to its importance in inflammation and infection. Nuclear translocation of p65 and NF-kappaB activation was seen in human gingival epithelial cells stimulated with F. nucleatum cell wall extract, indicating possible involvement of NF-kappaB in hBD-2 regulation. However, hBD-2 induction by F. nucleatum was not blocked by pretreatment with two NF-kappaB inhibitors, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and the proteasome inhibitor, MG132. To investigate alternative modes of hBD-2 regulation, we explored involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. F. nucleatum activated p38 and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways, whereas it had little effect on p44/42. Furthermore, inhibition of p38 and JNK partially blocked hBD-2 mRNA induction by F. nucleatum, and the combination of two inhibitors completely blocked expression. Our results suggest that NF-kappaB is neither essential nor sufficient for hBD-2 induction, and that hBD-2 regulation by F. nucleatum is via p38 and JNK, while phorbol ester induces hBD-2 via the p44/42 extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. Studies of hBD-2 regulation provide insight into how its expression may be enhanced to control infection locally within the mucosa and thereby reduce microbial invasion into the underlying tissue.