Highlights
- •Circulating human beta defensin-1 is increased in Behcet's disease.
- •Circulating human beta defensin-1 is independently associated with Neuro-Behcet.
- •The A allele of the DFEB1 -20G/A polymorphism is associated with Behcet's disease.
Abstract
Background
Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Beta-defensins
are antimicrobial peptides involved in epithelial host defense. To explore whether
beta-defensins might be involved in BD pathogenesis, we examined plasma human beta-defensin-1
(hBD-1) and DEFB1 -20G/A polymorphism in BD patients.
Methods
This case-control study included 106 BD patients fulfilling the criteria of the International
Study Group for BD and 156 controls. The -20G/A genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP
analysis in all participants, and plasma hBD-1 was assessed by ELISA in 77 BD patients
and 44 controls, only. Stepwise multiple regression models were applied to determine
independent predictors for plasma hBD-1 in BD patients.
Results
Distribution of -20G/A genotypes was different between BD patients and controls. Compared
to GG genotype, “GA” genotype [OR (95% CI), 3.12 (1.56–6.16); p = .001] and “AA” genotype
[2.57 (1.10–5.96); p = .027)] were associated with increased risk for BD. Plasma hBD-1
concentrations were significantly higher in BD patients than controls (9.81 ± 3.52 ng/mL
vs. 5.30 ± 3.02 ng/mL; p < .001), and in BD patients with neurological involvement than
those without (11.1 ± 4.12 ng/mL vs. 9.19 ± 3.10 ng/mL; p = .040). No variation was noted according to other clinical
features, treatment received or -20G/A genotypes. In multivariate analysis, neurological
involvement was the only predictor for plasma hBD-1 (β, 0.274; p = .029).
Conclusions
Findings suggest that hBD-1 and its encoding gene DEFB1 could modulate the risk for
BD, especially for BD neurological involvement. Further work is needed for a better
understanding of role of hBD-1 and its genetic variants in the pathogenesis of BD.
Abbreviations:
BD (Behcet's disease), hBD-1 (human beta-defensin-1)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 26, 2019
Accepted:
February 10,
2019
Received in revised form:
December 22,
2018
Received:
November 5,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
