Plasma TGF beta in systemic sclerosis: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES--To determine whether the active 25 kDa form of the fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) can be detected in plasma from patients with systemic sclerosis and to examine the relationship between plasma TGF beta and clinical markers of disease severity and serum con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the rheumatic diseases 1994-11, Vol.53 (11), p.763-767
Main Authors: Snowden, N, Coupes, B, Herrick, A, Illingworth, K, Jayson, M I, Brenchley, P E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disease Progression
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Peptide Fragments - blood
Procollagen - blood
Raynaud Disease - blood
Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis
Scleroderma, Systemic - blood
Scleroderma, Systemic - pathology
Transforming Growth Factor beta - blood
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Summary:OBJECTIVES--To determine whether the active 25 kDa form of the fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) can be detected in plasma from patients with systemic sclerosis and to examine the relationship between plasma TGF beta and clinical markers of disease severity and serum concentrations of the aminoterminal peptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) (a laboratory marker of the fibrotic process). METHODS--A cross sectional study was made of 39 patients with systemic sclerosis (11 diffuse and 28 limited), nine patients with primary Raynaud's disease and 60 healthy controls. TGF beta 1 and TGF beta 2 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (sensitivity 100 pg/ml) and PIIINP by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS--TGF beta 1 was detected in plasma from six of 39 patients with systemic sclerosis but not in any patient with primary Raynaud's disease or healthy controls. TGF beta 2 was not detected in plasma from patients or controls. No clear relationship was demonstrated between TGF beta 1, clinical features or PIIINP concentrations. CONCLUSIONS--The 25 kDa form of TGF beta 1 can be detected in the plasma of some patients with systemic sclerosis. This provides limited support for the hypothesis that this cytokine plays a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. However, longitudinal studies, particularly in early diffuse disease, are required to clarify the relationship between circulating TGF beta 1 and disease activity.
ISSN:0003-4967
1468-2060
DOI:10.1136/ard.53.11.763