Figure 6. Induction of hBD-2 protein expression in reconstructed skin by proinflammatory cytokines.

Expression of hBD-2 in 3-D reconstructed skin following stimulation with psoriasis-associated cytokines (10 ng/ml IL-1α, 5 ng/ml TNFα and 5 ng/ml IL-6) for 72 hours. Note that without stimulation there is no hBD-2 expression (A), whereas the cytokine mixture induces high expression levels that are secreted into the underlying culture medium (147 ng/ml in 24 h). Part of the hBD-2 protein remains adsorbed to the dermal matrix as witnessed by the staining of structures in the dermis (B). Bar = 100 µm.