Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1)- and beta 2-like activities in malignant pleural effusions caused by malignant mesothelioma or primary lung cancer.
We investigated the levels of TGF-beta in malignant pleural effusions (MPE) caused by malignant mesothelioma (MESO) or primary lung cancer. TGF-beta levels in MPE caused by MESO were 283.9 +/- 219.2 pm (mean +/- s.d.) and were three to six times higher than those due to primary lung cancers (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). We also evaluated TGF-beta 1- and beta 2-like activities in MPE using specific polyclonal antibodies. Although TGF-beta 1-like activity could be detected in all cases, TGF-beta 2-like activities were detected in five of seven in MESO and in a few cases with primary lung cancer. These results demonstrate that the levels of total TGF-beta and TGF-beta 2-like activity may be clinically useful to differentiate MESO from primary lung cancer. Our data also suggest that TGF-beta may help further characterize the clinical features of MESO.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Japan.
J
J
Maeda
N
N
Ueki
T
T
Ohkawa
N
N
Iwahashi
T
T
Nakano
T
T
Hada
K
K
Higashino
D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000276:immunology*; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000276:immunology
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D010978:Platelet Factor 4