title: Differences in pancreatic immunohistochemical staining profiles of TGF-beta1, MMP-2, and TIMP-2 between autoimmune and alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tumor growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is an immunosuppressive cytokine and has been implicated in a variety of disease processes, including those in autoimmune disease. Tumor growth factor beta is also involved in fibrosis by regulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitor of MP (TIMP). The purpose of this study was to compare the expression patterns of TGF-beta1, MMP-2, and TIMP-2 between autoimmune chronic pancreatitis (AIP) and alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) by immunohistochemical staining of pancreatic tissue specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pancreatic tissue specimens were obtained from 16 of 57 patients who had a diagnosis of AIP at the Asan Medical Center. Pancreatic tissue specimens of ACP were obtained from 10 patients who were surgically treated. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with antibodies specific for TGF-beta1, MMP-2, and TIMP-2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The degree of immunohistochemical staining for TGF-beta1 was significantly weaker in AIP than in ACP in the pancreatic ductal epithelial and mononuclear cells (P = 0.029 and P = 0.018, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding suggests that there may be a defect in the function of regulatory T (Treg) cells, which normally prevents autoimmune disease progression via a suppressor mechanism. Further studies are needed to identify the type of regulatory T cell involved in this process.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Korea.
authors: Eun Kwang
authors: EK
authors: Choi
authors: Myung-Hwan
authors: MH
authors: Kim
authors: Se Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Jang
authors: Keun-Hwa
authors: KH
authors: Lee
authors: Chang Yun
authors: CY
authors: Hwang
authors: Sung-Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Moon
authors: Tae Yoon
authors: TY
authors: Lee
authors: Chang Ok
authors: CO
authors: Koh
authors: Do Hyun
authors: DH
authors: Park
authors: Sang Soo
authors: SS
authors: Lee
authors: Dong Wan
authors: DW
authors: Seo
authors: Sung Koo
authors: SK
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2