High expression of platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in blast cells from patients with Down Syndrome suffering from transient myeloproliferative disorder and organ fibrosis

To determine whether platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) are involved in organ fibrosis in patients with transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) in Down syndrome, the exp ression of PDGF and TGF-beta1 mRNA in blast cells of TMD was investigated u sing real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction . Blasts and liver tissue from TMD patients with hepatic fibrosis showed a significantly elevated expression of PDGF gene. The expression of TGF-beta1 gene was higher in TMD and acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia than in the co ntrol group. These results suggest that PDGF in combination with TGF-beta1 plays a role in organ fibrosis of TMD.