INCREASED INTRAPLATELET AND URINARY TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

The concentrations of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in pl atelets, plasma and urine from 27 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and from 22 normal controls were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked im munosorbent assay using a monoclonal antibody specific for human TGF-b eta(1+2+3). A significantly increased intraplatelet TGF-beta (24.6 +/- 9.6 vs. 17.8 +/- 8.8 ng/10(5) platelets, p < 0.01) and urinary TGF-be ta (1.4 +/- 0.8 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.4 ng/mg Cr, p < 0.02) were observed in M M patients compared with normal controls. The mean platelet TGF-beta l evel in MM patients with osteolytic lesions was more increased than in those without osteolytic lesions (29.6 +/- 7.7 vs. 18.4 +/- 8.2 ng/10 (5) platelets, p < 0.001). In this study, we evaluated the possible ro le of TGF-beta in the pathogenesis of myeloma, especially in osteolyti c lesions.