title: The mRNA level of the transforming growth factor β1 gene, but not the amount of the gene product, can be considered as a potential prognostic parameter in inflammatory bowel diseases in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) plays a role in cell proliferation and differentiation, and it can modulate immune response. In this work, we asked whether levels of either TGF-β1 or mRNA of the corresponding gene in plasma or tissue can be useful in diagnosing and/or monitoring of the clinical course of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 104 pediatric patients with IBD: 36 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 68 with ulcerative colitis (UC); 42 children represented the control group. TGF-β1 levels in plasma and intestinal mucosa were estimated by ELISA and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Levels of TGF-β1 mRNA were determined by reverse transcription and real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with IBD, and in subgroups with CD and UC, no significant differences in the TGF-β1 level in plasma and tissue were found relative to the control group. These variables were not dependent on the stage of the disease, its activity or severity of endoscopic and histopathological findings. TGF-β1 mRNA levels were significantly higher in tissue samples withdrawn during the relapse of the disease than in those taken during the remission or in the control group. However, no correlation between TGF-β1 plasma levels and TGF-β1 mRNA amount in the intestinal mucosa was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TGF-β1 mRNA level, but not the amount of the gene product, was significantly increased in the pathologically changed tissue during the relapse of IBD. We suggest that this parameter might be considered as a potential prognostic value when assessing IBD in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical University of Gdańsk, Nowe Ogrody 1-6, 80-803, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liberek
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kmieć
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kartanowicz
authors.forename: Piotr M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wierzbicki
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanisławowski
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaszubowska
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luczak
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Góra-Gębka
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landowski
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liberek
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kamińska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakóbkiewicz-Banecka
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Węgrzyn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1