Correlation of TGF-β_1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells with liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease

Objective:To study the TGF β 1 mRNA expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of chronic liver disease and their correlation with liver fibrosis.Methods:TGF β 1 mRNA expressions were analyzed in PBMC from patients with mild chronic hepatitis, intermediate chronic hepatitis, severe chronic hepatitis, active liver cirrhosis using a quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique. Moreover, the serum contents of collagen type Ⅳ(C Ⅳ), procollagen Ⅲ(PC Ⅲ), laminine(LN) and hyaluronic acid(HA) were determined using radioimmunoassay.Results:The patients with chronic liver disease had significantly higher PBMC TGF β 1 mRNA levels (1.47±0.47, 1.90 ± 0.53,3.09±1.44 and 3.21±0.91) respectively than those in normal subjects(0.78±0.41)(P0.001). All the patients were divided into two groups—group with at least three abnormal items from the four serum markers of liver fibrosis(C Ⅳ,PC Ⅲ,LN and HA) and group with less than three abnormal items. Both groups had significantly higher PBMC TGF β 1 mRNA levels(2.62±1.14 and 1.61±0.51) respectively than those in normal subjects(P0.001). Furthermore, the group with at least three abnormal items had significantly higher PBMC TGF β 1 mRNA levels than those in the group with less than three abnormal items(P0.001).Conclusion:PBMC TGF β 1 mRNA levels increase remarkably in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and are associated with the activity of liver fibrosis.