Over expression of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor in human hepatic cirrhosis tissues.
OBJECTIVE
Transforming growth factor-alpha has 30% amino acid homology to epidermal growth factor and binds with the same membrane-bound receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor in human hepatic cirrhosis tissues.


METHODS
Expression of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor was evaluated by immunohistochemistry stain in sixty-three hepatic cirrhosis specimens and five normal liver specimens.


RESULTS
The transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor expression rates were 84.1% (53/63) and 52.4% (33/63), respectively. These positive granules were brown and most common in cytoplasm or cell membrane of hepatocytes. There was prominently positive correlation between transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor (P<0.05, gamma=0.32). In five normal liver tissues, transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor were not detectable in hepatocytes and bile ducts.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic cirrhosis might be under the autocrine regulation of transforming growth factor-alpha and its receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor. Increasing expression of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor might be one of the important events in hepatic cirrhosis pathogenesis. Furthermore, transforming growth factor-alpha might play a role in morphogenesis and regeneration of intrahepatic bile ducts.
Qiao
Qing
Q
Department of General Surgery, Xijing Hospital Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Zhang
Jing
J
Wang
Wenliang
W
Li
Qing
Q
D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D066246:ErbB Receptors