[Role of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in the pathogenesis and clinical course of chronic hepatitis in children].
Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is known to play a key role in processes of cell proliferation and differentiation. It also plays an important role in modulation of the immune response. Various diseases may arise both from excessive and insufficient activity of this cytokine. THE AIM OF THE STUDY was to evaluate the role of TGF-beta1 in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis (Ch.h.) and to assess whether TGF-beta1 level in plasma or its tissue expression can be useful in diagnosing and monitoring of clinical course of this disease.


METHODS
Twenty-one children with chronic hepatitis were included in the study and 42 healthy children constituted the control group. Liver function tests and TGF-beta1 plasma levels measured by ELISA method were evaluated in both groups of patients. In liver tissue obtained by needle biopsy, the histopathological grading and staging of hepatitis was evaluated, TGF-beta1 protein was assessed by immunohistochemical methods and TGF-beta1 gene expression was measured by reverse transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
In chronic hepatitis group of patients the plasma TGF-beta1 level did not differ from the control group and did not correlate with grading and staging of the liver tissue while positive correlation was observed with gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in the serum. There was no correlation between tissue TGF-beta1 expression and TGF-beta1 plasma level and staging or grading in liver tissue. TGF-beta1 gene expression correlated positively with ESR and ALAT activity but no correlation with TGF-beta1 plasma level, TGF-beta1 gene or protein expression, grading or staging in liver tissue were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
1. In children with chronic hepatitis, TGF-beta1 plasma level is not related to grading or staging in the liver tissue. This finding may be due to low level of fibrosis observed in the studied children. 2. It appears that local expression of TGF-beta1 in liver tissue should not be used as a sole marker in differentiating and monitoring the course of chronic hepatitis. 3. In children with chronic hepatitis assessment of liver TGF-beta1 gene expression is not helpful in the evaluation of pathological changes in liver tissue. 4. Due to the relatively low number of patients in the analysed groups it seems advisable to perform similar complex studies in larger groups of children with chronic hepatitis.
Liberek
Anna
A
Katedra i Klinika Pediatrii, Gastroenterologii, Hepatologii i Zywienia Dzieci Gdańskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego, ul. Nowe Ogrody 1/6, 80-803 Gdańsk. alib@amg.gda.pl
Marek
Andrzej
A
Kmieć
Zbigniew
Z
Kartanowicz
Dorota
D
Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz
Agnieszka
A
Łuczak
Grazyna
G
Wierzbicki
Piotr M
PM
Stanisławowski
Marcin
M
Wierzbicki
Maciej
M
Marek
Krzysztof
K
Liberek
Tomasz
T
Sikorska-Wiśniewska
Grazyna
G
Góra-Gebka
Magdalena
M
Wegrzyn
Grzegorz
G
Kamińska
Barbara
B
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
D015415:Biomarkers; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1