title: Transforming growth factor-beta-1 variants are not associated with chronic nonalcoholic pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic fibrosis is a key pathological feature of chronic pancreatitis. In vivo and in vitro data have demonstrated that pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) play a central role in pancreatic fibrosis. PSC activation and collagen synthesis are highly controlled by transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-beta1). We evaluated whether functionally relevant genetic variants of TGF-beta1 are associated with chronic nonalcoholic pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The promotor as well as exon 1 variants of the TGF-beta1 gene (G-800A, Leu10Pro and Arg25Pro) were investigated. Forty-two CP patients with a family history of nonalcoholic chronic pancreatitis (group A) and 88 patients without a family history of nonalcoholic chronic pancreatitis (group B) were studied. One hundred blood donors served as controls (group C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The allelic frequencies of G-800A, Leu10Pro and Arg25Pro were 12, 38 and 6% in group A; 7, 40 and 6% in group B and 12, 29 and 3% in group C, respectively. The differences were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functionally relevant genetic variants of the TGF-beta1 gene are not associated with nonalcoholic chronic pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitat Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Teich
authors.forename: Albrecht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmeister
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mössner
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Keim
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bödeker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta