Expression levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-8 and certain antimicrobial peptides in concurrent with bacterial conjunctivitis

AIM:To detect the quantitative expression levels of the pro-inflammatory interleukin-8(IL8),antimicrobial peptides human beta defense-2(HBD2),and human beta defense-3(HBD3)genes in bacterial conjunctivitis.METHODS:The human conjunctival epithelial cells were obtained using the impression cytology technique from healthy controls and patients.The genes expression levels were determined utilizing a reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-q PCR).The contribution of causative agent type,the number of isolates and severity of clinical features,in the increase of genes expression was also determined.RESULTS:The RT-q PCR showed that IL8,HBD2,and HBD3 expression increased in bacterial conjunctivitis as compared to healthy control(P<0.001).In gram-negative bacterial conjunctivitis,HBD2 was highly up-regulated(P<0.001)compared to other types of bacterial conjunctivitis.In mixed bacterial conjunctivitis,a direct correlation between HBD2 up-regulation and HBD3 up-regulation was observed(P<0.05).The severity of clinical features was related to the up-regulation of IL8 and HBD2(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:IL8,HBD2,and HBD3 are immuneeffectors in infectious conjunctivitis.HBD2 is active during different bacterial conjunctivitis but is more released with gram-negative bacteria compared to gram-positive bacteria.HBD3 is an obvious defender in different bacterial conjunctivitis.