FIG. 1.

RT-PCR analysis of hBD-2 mRNA expression in normal gingival-tissue samples. Specific primer pairs (Table 1) were used for an amplification of RNA from multiple noninflamed gingival-tissue samples: hBD-2, 255-bp product; IL-8, 598-bp product; and human keratin 5 (HK-5), 235-bp product. All products were amplified for 25 and 28 cycles. Note that HBD-2 mRNA is expressed in 14 of 15 tissue samples tested, and the level of expression varies between individuals. −RT and H₂O samples serve as negative controls.