[The expression of transforming growth factor-beta receptor I and its mRNA in liver tissues of chronic hepatitis B and the clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of transforming growth factor-beta receptor I (TGF-beta RI) and its mRNA in liver tissues of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and the relationship between its expression and the pathological injury of hepatic tissues.


METHODS
Forty-eight liver specimens from patients with CHB were observed by techniques of immunohistochemistry and in situ nucleic acid hybridization.


RESULTS
TGF-beta RI was expressed in the hepatocyte, sinusoid endothelial cell and bile duct epithelial cell, with predominance in the hepatocyte and distribution in small granule or cell membrane. Increased expressing of TGF-beta RI was parallel to the degree of inflammatory activity and fibrosis (r=0.7095, P<0.05; r=0.6915, P<0.05; respectively). The number and the distribution of TGF-beta RI mRNA in the positive cells were coincident to those of its protein. The expression of TGF-beta RI was closely correlated with Tbil (r= 0.3396, P<0.05), PA (r= -0.3430, P<0.05) and ALB (r= -0.4173, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The TGF-beta RI may involve in the pathological injury of hepatic tissues of CHB.
He
J
J
Institute of Infectious Diseases, 302 nd Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100039, China.
Xin
S
S
Zhao
J
J
Wang
S
S
D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I