Molecular mechanisms underlying human <b>β</b>‐defensin‐2 gene expression in a human airway cell line (LC2/ad)

Abstract

These findings suggest that glucocorticoids (GC), but not COX inhibitors, reduce hBD-2 gene expression, while NF-kappaB, AP-1 and intracellular calcium are essential for hBD-2 expression. Glucocorticoid-induced down-regulation of hBD-2 might be involved in the GC-induced suppression of respiratory host defence associated with hBD-2.