Quantitative analysis of transforming growth factor beta 1 mRNA in patients with alcoholic liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of the transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-beta 1) mRNA in different stages of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and its clinical value.


METHODS
One hundred and seven male alcoholics were grouped by clinical findings into four groups: alcohol abusers without liver impairment (n =22), alcoholic steatosis (n =30); alcoholic hepatitis (n=31); and alcoholic cirrhosis(n=24). Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as samples the gene expression of TGF-beta 1 was examined quantitatively by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and dot blot. There are 34 healthy subjects served as control.


RESULTS
The expression of TGF-beta 1 from all ALD patients was significantly greater than that in controls (1.320 +/- 1.162 vs 0.808 +/- 0.276, P<0.001). The differences of the expressions were significant between the patients from each groups (alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis) and the controls (1.168 +/- 0.852, 1.462 +/- 1.657, 1.329 +/- 0.610 vs 0.808 +/- 0.276, P<0.050). No significant differences of TGF -beta 1 mRNA expression were observed between alcohol abusers without liver impairment and controls. The expressions in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis were significantly greater than that in alcohol abusers respectively (1.462 +/- 1.657, 1.329 +/- 0.610 vs 0.841 +/- 0.706, P<0.050). No significant differences of TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression were observed between alcoholic fatty liver men and alcohol abusers.


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-beta 1 expression level can be a risk factor for alcoholic liver disease and might be related to the inflammatory activity and fibrosis of the liver in patients.
Chen
Wei-Xing
WX
Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. weixng121@sina.com
Li
You-Ming
YM
Yu
Chao-Hui
CH
Cai
Wei-Min
WM
Zheng
Min
M
Chen
Feng
F
D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D012333:RNA, Messenger; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1