Abstract
Gastric epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo are shown to constitutively express the peptide antibiotic human beta-defensin type 1 (hBD-1). In contrast, hBD-2 expression is regulated in gastric epithelial cells and increases in response to infection with Helicobacter pylori or stimulation with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1. These data suggest that hBD-2 is a component of the regulated host gastric epithelial cell response to H. pylori infection and proinflammatory mediators.