Abstract

Background: Human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) is a cysteine-rich, cationic, low-molecular-weight antimicrobial peptide, first extracted from psoriatic scales. Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a common superficial fungal infection, in which the causative organisms are limited to the stratum corneum.

Objective: To compare the degree of expression of hBD-2 in the skin of both PV and psoriasis to clarify the specificity of hBD-2 in infective and noninfective dermatoses.

Patients and methods: This study included 17 patients with PV, 15 patients with psoriasis, and 10 healthy controls. Skin scrapings were obtained from all participants for estimation of hBD-2 levels in the scales using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The study revealed significantly higher hBD-2 levels in the scales of PV, as well as of psoriasis, in comparison with controls.

Conclusion: hBD-2 is a nonspecific antimicrobial peptide that is overexpressed equally in both infective (PV) and noninfective (psoriasis) cutaneous disorders, encouraging further investigations on its role in immune regulation and antimicrobial defense.