Basic Researchclinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2002. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 15, 2002; 8(2): 379-381
Published online Apr 15, 2002. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v8.i2.379
Quantitative analysis of transforming growth factor beta 1 mRNA in patients with alcoholic liver disease
Wei-Xing Chen, You-Ming Li, Chao-Hui Yu, Wei-Min Cai, Min Zheng, Feng Chen
Wei-Xing Chen, You-Ming Li, Chao-Hui Yu, Wei-Min Cai, Min-Zheng, Feng-Chen, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr.Wei-Xing Chen, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang, Province, China. weixng121@sina.com
Telephone: +86-571-7236568 Fax: +86-571-87236611
Received: March 28, 2001
Revised: October 5, 2001
Accepted: October 12, 2001
Published online: April 15, 2002
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression of the transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF- beta 1) mRNA in different stages of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and its clinical value.

METHODS: One hundred and seven male alcoholics were grouped by clinical findings into four groups: Alcohol abusers without liver impairment (n = 22), alcoholic steatosis (n = 30); alcoholic hepatitis (n = 31); and alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 24). Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as samples the gene expression of TGF-beta 1 was examined quantitatively by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and dot blot. There are 34 healthy subjects served as control.

RESULTS: The expression of TGF-beta 1 from all ALD patients was significantly greater than that in controls (1.320 ± 1.162 vs 0.808 ± 0.276, P < 0.001). The differences of the expressions were significant between the patients from each groups (alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis) and the controls (1.168 ± 0.852, 1.462 ± 1.657, 1.329 ± 0.610 vs 0.808 ± 0.276, P < 0.050). No significant differences of TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression were observed between alcohol abusers without liver impairment and controls. The expressions in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis were significantly greater than that in alcohol abusers respectively (1.462 ± 1.657, 1.329 ± 0.610 vs 0.841 ± 0.706, P < 0.050). No significant differences of TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression were observed between alcoholic fatty liver men and alcohol abusers.

CONCLUSION: TGF-beta 1 expression level can be a risk factor for alcoholic liver disease and might be related to the inflammatory activity and fibrosis of the liver in patients.

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