Inhibitory effect of recombinant human beta-defensin-2 on angiogenesis and inflammatory factors of rat model of endometriosis

Background: Human beta defensin-2 is one of the important members of defensin family in endogenous antibiotic peptides, which plays an important role in immune defense process. This study aimed to investigate the effect of recombinant human beta-defensin-2 (pLXSN-hBD2) on angiogenesis and inflammatory factors of rat model of endometriosis (EMS). Methods: 31 EMS rats were randomly divided into PLXSN-hBD2, PLXSN and PBS groups, which were transfected with 2 mu g of PLXSN-hBD2, PLXSN and PBS, respectively. Two weeks later, the volume of ectopic focus, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum, ovarian hormone level and microvessel density (MVD) in tissues as well as the mRNA expression of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B of transfected rats in the three groups were detected. Results: Local multi-point injection of 2 mu g of pLXSN-hBD2 resulted in hBD-2 protein expression in the ectopic focus tissue of rat model in the following two weeks. Two weeks after transfection, the volume of ectopic focus, VEGF level in plasma, MVD in focus tissue and the mRNA expression of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B in PLXSN-hBD2 group were obviously smaller or lower than those in both PLXSN and PBS group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The differences in ovarian hormone level between the three groups were not significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: pLXSN-hBD has an inhibitory effecton angiogenesis and inflammatory factors in ectopic focus of rat model of EMS.