Elevated Tear Human Neutrophil Peptides 1-3, Human Beta Defensin-2 Levels and Conjunctival Cathelicidin LL-37 Gene Expression in Ocular Rosacea

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To investigate the role of innate immunity in ocular rosacea.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with ocular rosacea patients (group-1) and 28 healthy volunteers (group-2) who served as controls were enrolled in the study. Tear function parameters were assessed, conjunctival impression cytology was performed and tear samples were collected. Human-neutrophil-peptides (HNP) 1–3 and human-beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2) levels were measured in tears by using ELISA tests. Cathelicidin leucin-leucin-37 (LL-37), hBD-2, human-beta-defensin-9 (hBD-9) gene expression levels were measured in the conjunctival impression cytology samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Tear HNP1-3 (p = 0.024), hBD-2 (p < 0.001), conjunctival LL-37 gene expression rate (p = 0.014) and ocular surface disease index scores (p = 0.001) were higher and the tear break-up time was lower (p = 0.003) in group-1. No other differences were found between the groups.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the role of abnormal innate immunity in the pathophysiology of ocular rosacea by revealing elevated antimicrobial peptide levels.

Keywords:

• Antimicrobial peptides
• cathelicidin
• defensins
• innate immunity
• ocular
• rosacea

Acknowledgments

Laboratory analyses were performed in Kirikkale University of Scientific and Technological Research Center (KUBTUAM) with the above mentioned financial support. The authors want to thank to biology experts Esra Günaydın and Aslı Agar for ELISA and RT-PCR performed in KUBTUAM.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Ethics

This study was approved by Kirikkale University Clinical Research Ethics Committee, #16/14- 04.06.2014).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Kirikkale University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Grant number 2014/80).