TGF-beta1 mRNA expression in liver biopsy specimens and TGF-beta1 serum levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after antiviral therapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is the best-characterized profibrogenic cytokine. TGF-beta1 increases the production of extracellular matrix proteins and their receptors and inhibits the synthesis of matrix degrading proteolytic enzymes. We undertook this study to simultaneously evaluate the effect of interferon alpha 2b plus ribavirin therapy on TGF-beta1 daily serum levels and on mRNA TGF-beta1 expression in liver biopsy specimens from 60 patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS

Serum levels of TGF-beta1 were measured by ELISA. The levels of the RNAs in liver biopsy specimens were measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. After treatment, patients were divided into two groups: 34 responders [undetectable hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA, normal ALT levels, decrease in histology activity index compared with pretreatment liver biopsy] and 26 non-responders (detectable HCV-RNA, elevated ALT levels, no decrease in the histology activity index).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In patients with hepatitis C, the 'responders' to the antiviral treatment showed significant decreases in both mean daily serum TGF-beta1 levels and mRNA TGF-beta1 expression in the liver biopsy specimens. The 'non-responders' serum TGF-beta1 concentrations did not change significantly, but the mRNA TGF-beta1 expression did.

CONCLUSION

Both serum TGF-beta1 concentration and mRNA TGF-beta1 expression in liver biopsy specimens may be useful as prognostic markers in patients with hepatitis C undergoing antiviral therapy.

[Quantitative assessment of mRNA TGF-beta1 in liver tissue in connection with serum mean daily level of TGF-1 in chronic hepatitis B patient]

Monitoring of fibrosis process with the use of histopathologic studies on liver's bioptates is limited, so it is attempted to find reliable, obtained with less invasive methods, sensitive and reflecting fibrosis dynamics markers of this process. The aim of the study was simultaneously to assess liver's expression as well as circadian and mean daily TGF-betal concentration in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis type B in comparison to control group. Studies were performed on 50 patients (9 women, 41 men) aged 45.9 +/- 2.3 years with chronic hepatitis type B. Control group consisted of 20 patients (mean age 38.6 +/- 3.7 years), in which so called minimal changes without fibrosis were observed in histophatologic bioptate of liver. Blood for studies was collected every 4 houres during the day. Serum concentration of TGF-betal was assessed with the use of ELISA method, and expression of mRNA TGF-betal in liver with QRT-PCR method. No significant difference between circadian as well as mean daily serum TGF-betal concentration beetwen control group and the group with chronic hepatitis type B was shown. Increased expression of mRNA, TGF-betal in bioptate of liver of patients with chronic hepatitis type B in comparison to control group was noted. In "minimal changes" control group presence of significant positive correlation between expression of mRNA TGF-beta1 in liver and concentration of this cytokine in serum was shown, in the group of patients with chronic hepatitis B this connection was not noted.