title: Hepatocyte steatosis in HCV patients promotes fibrosis by enhancing TGF-beta liver expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between TGF-beta expression in steatotic liver and the stage and yearly progression rate of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 44 CHC fatty liver patients, using 76 non-steatotic CHC patients as controls. The stage of hepatic fibrosis was assessed on a score scale. TGF-beta expression was determined with the use of monoclonal serum and the ABC three-step method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated a positive correlation of steatosis with the stage of fibrosis (P < 0.05). No relationship of thiskind was found with the yearly progression rate of fibrosis (P > 0.09). In steatotic biopsies, TGF-beta expression index in portal spaces and lobules was found to be higher as compared to TGF-beta expression in biopsies without steatosis (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In CHC patients steatosis induces the development of fibrosis by elevating the hepatic expression of TGF-beta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziólkowski
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Radlowski
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomaszek
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dziambor