| Autor: |
Watt, Jk., Hawkins, K., Zhang, M., Lipschitz, J., Sandha, G., Gong, Y., Uhanova, J., Minuk, G. |
| Zdroj: |
Digestive Diseases & Sciences; Jan2004, Vol. 49 Issue 1, p5-8, 4p |
| Abstrakt: |
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by progressive fibrosis and stricturing of the biliary tract. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a family of cytokines produced by biliary tract epithelial cells that promote fibrinogenesis. Our objective was to determine whether TGF-β levels are increased in the blood and/or bile of PSC patients compared to patients with other causes of obstructed biliary tracts (controls). Serum and bile TGF-β levels were documented by enzyme-linked immunoassay in 10 adult PSC and 10 control patients obtained at the time of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Serum and bile TGF-β levels were similar in the two groups (PSC versus control sera, 33.4 ± 4.3 versus 27.5 ± 7.7 ng/ml, and bile, 367 ± 275 versus 457 ± 247 ng/mg, respectively). Serum and bile TGF-β levels are not increased in patients with PSC. Hence, the results of this pilot study do not support the hypotheses that PSC is caused by dysregulated TGF-β expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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