Identification and overexpression of human neutrophil α-defensins (human neutrophil peptides 1, 2 and 3) in squamous cell carcinomas of the human tongue

• Published in: Oral oncology Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 139 - 144
• Main Authors: Lundy, Fionnuala T., Orr, David F., Gallagher, James R., Maxwell, Perry, Shaw, Chris, Napier, Seamus S., Gerald Cowan, C., Lamey, Philip-John, Marley, John J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; alpha-Defensins - metabolism; Amino Acid Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Defensin; Female; Human; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Molecular Sequence Data; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Neoplasm Staging; Oral cancer; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Proteomics; Tongue Neoplasms - metabolism; Tongue Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors; Tumour; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Human; OSCC; Oral cancer; Matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry; MALDI-MS; 2D-PAGE; 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; HNP; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; High pressure liquid chromatography; Proteomics; Tumour; Human defensin; Defensin; HD; HPLC; Human neutrophil peptide; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tongue; Peptides; Stomatology; Granulocyte; ENT; Malignant tumor; Cancerology; Oral cavity disease; Neutrophil
• ISSN: 1368-8375; 1879-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/S1368-8375(03)00142-8

To date, little attention has been paid to the possible role of α-defensins (human neutrophil peptides 1-3), HNP-1, HNP-2 and HNP-3 in innate host defence against tumour invasion. In the current study, using a single-dimensional high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for peptide separation, followed by mass spectrometry and amino acid sequencing for identification and quantitation, we report the overexpression of HNP-1, HNP-2 and HNP-3 in squamous cell carcinomas of the human tongue compared with autogenous non-tumour tissue. Using a specific antibody we show that the defensins are abundant in neutrophils infiltrating human oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue. In the context of their previously reported oncolytic activity, our results may imply a role for α-defensins in host defence against oral squamous cell carcinoma.