Relationship between transforming growth factor β1 and liver fibrosis

Objective To observe the relatonship between TGFβ1 and liver fibrosis. Methods In this study, transforming growth factor β1(TGFβ1) was investigated in serum of chronic liver disease patients, which were divided into various groups according to the pathologic grading and staging of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. The changes of serum concentration of TGFβ1 were compared, and the degree of correlation between TGFβ1 and inflammation, and fibrosis. Results Serum TGFβ1 concentration was significantly higher in patients of G2, G3 and G4 than in that in the controls ( P 0.001), but there was no significant difference among G2, G3 and G4( P 0.05). There was no correlation between serum TGFβ1 and the hepatic inflammation score ( P 0.05). Serum TGFβ1 concentration was significantly higher in patients of S2, S3 and S4 than that in the controls ( P 0.05). The more severe the staging, the higher the concentration of TGFβ1. Serum and liver fibrosis were highly correlated ( P 0.001). Conclusion TGFβ1 is related to liver fibrosis, it participates in the formation and progression of liver fibrosis.