Abstract
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.
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Watt, J., Hawkins, K., Zhang, M. et al. Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) Protein Levels Are Not Elevated in the Blood or Bile of Patients with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Pilot Study. Dig Dis Sci 49, 5–8 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:DDAS.0000011594.94294.12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:DDAS.0000011594.94294.12