Plasma markers of platelet activation in cystic fibrosis liver and lung disease.
BACKGROUND
Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFbeta1) is a major fibrogenic cytokine, the expression of which is increased in the livers of children with cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD) and in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with cystic fibrosis pulmonary disease (CFPD). The purpose of our study was to investigate the usefulness of plasma TGFbeta1 as a noninvasive marker of CFLD and CFPD, or both and to investigate the contribution of platelet-derived TGFbeta1 to plasma TGFbeta1 by correlating the latter with platelet factor 4 (PF4).


METHODS
Three groups of patients with cystic fibrosis were studied: 1) those with CFLD, 2) those with CF and no liver disease (CFNLD), and 3) those with CFPD. Controls were healthy adolescents and adults. Plasma TGFbeta1 was assayed using the R and D Quantikine quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique and PF4 (American Bioproducts ELISA kit).


RESULTS
Plasma TGFbeta1 was markedly increased in CFPD (15 +/- 3 ng/mL) versus healthy adults (1 +/- 0 ng/mL; P < 0.004. The PF4 values followed a similar pattern: 105 +/- 8 ng/mL in CFPD versus 12 +/- 4 ng/mL (P < 0.0001). Plasma TGFbeta1 values in CFLD did not differ from CFNLD patients of comparable age nor from values for healthy adolescents. Plasma TGFbeta1 values were strongly correlated with values for PF4: r = 0.543, P < 0.0001.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma TGFbeta1 is not a useful marker of CFLD. The increased plasma TGFbeta1 and PF4 in CFPD patients are of interest both as possible noninvasive markers of pulmonary fibrosis and because the increased values suggest that platelet activation may play a pathogenetic role in CFPD.
Schwarz
Kathleen B
KB
Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. kschwarz@jhmi.edu
Rosensweig
Jeffrey
J
Sharma
Savitri
S
Jones
Lawrence
L
Durant
Michael
M
Potter
Carol
C
Narkewicz
Michael R
MR
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D015415:Biomarkers; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D010978:Platelet Factor 4