title: Relationship between serum transforming growth factor ß1 and liver collagen content in rats treated with carbon tetrachloride.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transforming Growth Factor ß1 (TGFß1) plays a fundamental role in fibrogenesis, although its importance as a biomarker of liver disease is still matter of debate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Quantify serum TGFß1 and its association to liver collagen content in rats exposed to Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were submitted to a fibrosis model using CCl4 and sacrificed after 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks of treatment. Serum levels of TGFß1 were measured by ELISA and collagen content was defined by morphometric analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of TGFß1 increased between 6 and 10 weeks, whereas collagen density increased between 12 and 16 weeks. A negative correlation was observed between liver collagen deposition and serum levels of TGFß1 (r = -0. 48; P<0. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum levels of TGFß1 were inversely proportional to collagen intensity in cirrhotic livers of rats exposed to CCl4, thus suggesting a limited use as biomarker in advanced liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Dos Santos
authors.initials: Fdos S
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Themis Reverbel da
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Matte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D003094:Collagen; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride