Transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression in irradiated liver

The expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in the liver of irradiated rats was increased in a dose-dependent fashion 9 months after irradiation. Expression of TGF-beta 1 was confined primarily to hepatocytes in the pericentral region of the liver, and the percentage of hepatocy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Radiation research 1990-04, Vol.122 (1), p.77
Main Authors: Anscher, M S, Crocker, I R, Jirtle, R L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Female
Hepatitis - etiology
Humans
Hydroxyproline - analysis
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Liver - metabolism
Liver - radiation effects
Radiation Injuries - etiology
Radiation Tolerance - drug effects
Rats
Rats, Inbred F344
Transforming Growth Factors - metabolism
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Summary:The expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in the liver of irradiated rats was increased in a dose-dependent fashion 9 months after irradiation. Expression of TGF-beta 1 was confined primarily to hepatocytes in the pericentral region of the liver, and the percentage of hepatocytes strongly positive for TGF-beta 1 was significantly correlated with the extent of fibrosis. We further showed that a localized injection of TGF-beta 1 into normal rat liver elicited a strong fibrotic reaction at the injection site. These results suggest that the increased hepatic concentration of TGF-beta 1 in response to radiation injury may be important in the pathogenesis of radiation hepatitis. TGF-beta 1 was also found to be present at a significantly higher concentration in unirradiated human hepatocytes than in normal rat hepatocytes, implying that the propensity for humans to develop radiation hepatitis may result in part from the elevated levels of TGF-beta 1 normally found in human liver.
ISSN:0033-7587
DOI:10.2307/3577586