Serum transforming growth factor-beta1 and epidermal growth factor in biliary atresia.
OBJECTIVE
Biliary atresia (BA) is a serious liver disease in children. Since transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are involved in the hepatic reparative process, our objective was to investigate whether serum TGF-beta1 and serum EGF levels were associated with therapeutic outcomes in BA.


METHODS
Serum levels of TGF-beta1 and EGF were determined with the ELISA method in 67 postoperative BA patients with a median age of 7 years and in 10 age-comparable healthy children. The BA patients were then divided into two groups depending on their therapeutic outcome: good outcome (jaundice-free) and poor outcome (persistent jaundice). Clinical data, serum TGF-beta1 and serum EGF levels were compared between the two groups of BA patients. Correlation analysis of serum TGF-beta1 with serum EGF was carried out. Data are expressed as mean +/- SD.


RESULTS
Serum TGF-beta1 levels of BA patients were higher than those of controls (86.6 +/- 15.7 vs. 75.7 +/- 8.8 ng/ml, p = 0.0362). However, there was no difference in serum EGF between BA patients and controls (133.1 +/- 66.6 vs. 125.4 +/- 88.9 pg/ml, p = 0.744). Further subgroup analysis showed that patients with good outcomes (n = 40) had higher serum TGF-beta1 and serum EGF levels than patients with poor outcomes (TGF-beta1: 91.2 +/- 16.5 vs. 79.6 +/- 11.7 ng/ml, p = 0.002; EGF: 148.5 +/- 65.0 vs. 110.3 +/- 63.4 pg/ml, p = 0.02). In addition, serum TGF-beta1 was positively correlated with serum EGF (Pearson's r = 0.3418, p = 0.0046).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated serum TGF-beta1 and serum EGF levels were associated with a good outcome in BA patients. There was a positive correlation between serum TGF-beta1 and serum EGF. This suggests that the resultant TGF-beta1 and EGF pathways may be involved in the pathophysiological process in postoperative BA.
Vejchapipat
P
P
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. pvejchap@yahoo.co.uk
Theamboonlers
A
A
Poomsawat
S
S
Chittmittrapap
S
S
Poovorawan
Y
Y
D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor