title: Transforming growth factor β1 protein and mRNA levels in inflammatory bowel diseases: towards solving the contradictions by longitudinal assessment of the protein and mRNA amounts.
abstract: Previously published studies on levels of the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) protein and mRNA of the corresponding gene in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) gave varying results, leading to contradictory conclusions. To solve the contradictions, we aimed to assess longitudinally TGF-β1 protein and mRNA levels at different stages of the disease in children suffering from IBD. The study group consisted of 19 pediatric patients with IBD at the age between 3.5 and 18.4 years. The control group consisted of 42 children aged between 2.0 and 18.0 years. The plasma TGF-β1 concentration was measured with ELISA. mRNA levels of the TGF-β1 gene isolated from samples of the intestinal tissue were assessed by reverse transcription and real-time PCR. Levels of TGF-β1 protein in plasma and corresponding mRNA in intestinal tissue were significantly higher in IBD patients than in controls. TGF-β1 and corresponding transcripts were also more abundant in plasma and intestinal tissue, respectively, in patients at the active stage of the disease than during remission. In every single IBD patient, plasma TGF-β1 level and mRNA level in intestinal tissue was higher at the active stage of the disease than during remission. Levels of TGF-β1 and corresponding mRNA are elevated during the active stage of IBD but not during the remission. Longitudinal assessment of this cytokine in a single patient may help to monitor the clinical course of IBD.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences with Subfaculty of Nursing, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liberek
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kmieć
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wierzbicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakóbkiewicz-Banecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liberek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Łuczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Plata-Nazar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Słomińska-Frączek
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaszubowska
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology (affiliated with University of Gdańsk), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabig-Cimińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Węgrzyn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1