Abstract: [Abstract]  Objective  To investigate the expression of humanβ-defensin 2 (HBD-2) in gastric mucosa of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) associated gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and the role of HBD-2 in gastric MALT lymphoma. Methods   Forty gastric mucosa specimens from patients with H. pylori associated gastric MALT lymphoma were collected. And 36 gastric mucosa specimens from chronic superficial gastritis without H. pylori infection were included as control group. The expression of HBD-2 was detected by immunohistochemistry staining. Results   The expression of HBD-2 was significantly higher in H. pylori associated gastric MALT lymphoma than that of control group. (P＜0.01). The expression of HBD-2 was significantly decreased after the eradication of H. pylori (P＜ 0.01). The expression of HBD- 2 was significantly higher in H. pylori associated gastric MALT lymphoma than that of lymphoma cells (P＜ 0.01).There was no expression of HBD-2 in lymphoma cells. Conclusion  HBD-2 is possibly involved in the pathogenesis of H.pylori associated gastric MALT lymphoma. But whether it has anti-tumor effect is not clear.

Key words: lymphoma, B-cell, marginal zone, helicobacter pylori, beta-defensins, stomach neoplasms, gastric MALT lymphoma, 胃MALT淋巴瘤