Reduced plasma transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C after interferon-alpha therapy: association with regression of hepatic fibrosis
H. Tsushima et al., Reduced plasma transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C after interferon-alpha therapy: association with regression of hepatic fibrosis, J HEPATOL, 30(1), 1999, pp. 1-7
Background/Aim: Transforming growth factor-beta 1 is involved in liver fibr
osis. Our aim was to examine the association of plasma transforming growth
factor-beta 1 levels with the degree of liver fibrosis.
Methods: We analyzed plasma transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels in 43
patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha using a tra
nsforming growth factor-beta 1 ELISA. The content of transforming growth fa
ctor-beta 1 in liver tissue obtained by needle biopsy (n=13) was also analy
zed. The degree of liver fibrosis was assessed histologically and morphomet
rically.
Results: Plasma transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels were significantly
correlated with transforming growth factor-beta 1 content in liver tissue
(r=0.83, p<0.001), indicating that plasma levels correspond with tissue cyt
okine. Plasma transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels in patients (8.1+/-1
.1 ng/ml) before interferon-alpha therapy were significantly higher than in
controls (1.9+/-0.3 ng/ml) (p<0.01). Plasma levels were significantly corr
elated with the degree of fibrosis (p<0.01). Plasma transforming growth fac
tor-beta 1 levels were significantly decreased in sustained responders (fro
m 5.2+/-1.0 ng/ml to 2.9+/-0.7 ng/ml), relapsed patients (from 9.8+/-2.0 ng
/ml to 3.4+/-0.6 ng/ ml), and nonresponders (from 9.3+/-2.1 ng/ml to 3.9+/-
0.9 ng/ml) at the end of therapy (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Significant
regression of liver fibrosis after therapy was observed in both sustained r
esponders and nonresponders (p<0.05 for both).
Conclusions: These observations suggest that plasma transforming growth fac
tor-beta 1 levels appear to be associated with the degree of liver fibrosis
.