Increased circulating transforming growth factor beta1 in a patient with giant hepatic hemangioma: possible contribution to an impaired immune function.
A patient, having a huge hepatic hemangioma, presented with decreases in the number of peripheral lymphocytes and in serum concentrations of gamma-globulin and immunoglobulin (Ig) G, and a negative purified protein derivatives skin test, indicating that the patient's immunity was impaired. The plasma concentration of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), a potent immunosuppressor, in the patient was markedly elevated (113 ng/mL, normal < 5). After the surgical removal of the tumor, the plasma TGF-beta1 concentration decreased, and the patient's immunity was restored to normal. Northern blot analysis showed an overexpression of the TGF-beta1 gene in the hemangioma tissue, while normal control liver tissue expressed undetectable levels of TGF-beta1 messenger RNA. These results suggest that the elevated levels of TGF-beta1 in the plasma were derived from the giant hemangioma tissue and may have contributed to the impaired immune function in the patient.
Ito
N
N
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan.
Kawata
S
S
Tsushima
H
H
Tamura
S
S
Kiso
S
S
Takami
S
S
Igura
T
T
Monnden
M
M
Matsuzawa
Y
Y
D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*
D016207:Cytokines; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta