title: Expression of transforming growth factor beta by small duct epithelium in chronic, cancer-associated, obstructive pancreatitis: an in situ hybridization study and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a dominant mediator of pancreatic fibrosis. The objective of this study was to identify cellular sources of TGF-beta mRNA and compare the results with previous immunohistochemical/in situ hybridization studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In situ hybridization of TGF-beta was conducted for 9 human tissues of chronic obstructive pancreatitis (COP) and 2 control specimens. By classifying these 9 COP tissues into 3 fibrosis phases by the amount of fibrotic space, histopathologic changes were examined for each fibrosis phase. Whether or not TGF-beta-positive cells were closely distributed to fibrosis was also investigated in control and COP cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three cases were categorized in early, intermediate, and advanced stages of fibrosis. Transforming growth factor beta mRNA was identified for a part of small duct epithelia, that is, intercalated ductule cells, centroacinar cells, and/or metaplastic ductal structures adjacent to acinar cells. The number of TGF-beta-positive cells was greater in COP cases than in controls. In controls and in the early stage of fibrosis, no fibrosis was seen near TGF-beta-positive cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small duct epithelia are the main cellular sources of TGF-beta in COP, and many of them may be working for COP fibrosis either directly or indirectly.
authors: Department of Pathology I, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. yfuku@med.juntendo.ac.jp
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Fukumura
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Suda
authors: Keiko
authors: K
authors: Mitani
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Takase
authors: Toshio
authors: T
authors: Kumasaka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D046790:Pancreas, Exocrine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta