Immunohistological analysis of tumour growth factor beta 1 expression in normal and inflamed salivary glands.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) has a pathogenetic role in disease of the salivary glands.


METHODS
An indirect immunohistochemical technique was used to analyse TGF-beta 1 expression in six specimens of normal salivary gland and 23 surgical specimens.


RESULTS
TGF-beta 1 was strongly expressed in the ductal epithelial cells of normal salivary gland tissues (six of six cases) and in inflammatory conditions (eight of 11 cases). In contrast, TGF-beta 1 was not detectable in ductal epithelial cells expressing HLA-DR around infiltrating CD4+ CD45RO+ activated T cells, in the salivary gland tissue of patients with Sjögren's syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Because TGF-beta 1 has an essential role in the mucosal immunity of salivary glands, abnormal expression of this cytokine must be regarded as a candidate in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome.
Kizu
Y
Y
Department of Oral Medicine, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
Sakurai
H
H
Katagiri
S
S
Shinozaki
N
N
Ono
M
M
Tsubota
K
K
Saito
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012793:Sialadenitis / Q000473:pathology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens