Antibacterial and Neutralizing Effect of Human β-Defensins on Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecalis Lipoteichoic Add

Introduction: Enterococcus faecalis is frequently found in the root canal of teeth, is a major microorganism of endodontic therapy failure, and is associated with chronic apical periodontitis. Human beta-defensins (HBDs) are known to play critical roles in defending the host against infectious microbes and producing dental pulp in healthy and patients. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the bactericidal and neutralizing effects of HBDs on E. faecalis and E. faecalis lipoteichoic acid (Ef LTA) as a major virulence factor of E. faecalis. Methods: HBD-1, -2, -3, and -4 were synthesized and investigated the susceptibility against E. faecalis. Also, the neutralizing effects of HBDs on cytokine and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression by activity of E. faecalis and Ef LTA were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. Results: HBD-1 and -2 were weakly susceptible, and HBD-3 and HBD-4 were strongly susceptible to E. faecalis. All of the HBDs exhibited neutralizing effects on the activity of Ef LTA, and HBD3 strongly neutralized the activity of E. faecalis in tumor necrosis factor-cc, interleukin-8, and ICAM-1 expression. The neutralizing effects of HBDs were to inhibit E. faecalis or Ef LTA binding to the host cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that the induction of HBDs might have great potential as endodontic therapeutic agents. (J Enciod 2012;38:351-356)