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Increased circulating transforming growth factor β 1 in a patient with giant hepatic hemangioma: Possible contribution to an impaired immune function
Author(s) -
Ito N.,
Kawata S.,
Tsushima H.,
Tamura S.,
Kiso S.,
Takami S.,
Igura T.,
Monnden M.,
Matsuzawa Y.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.510250117
Subject(s) - transforming growth factor , immune system , hemangioma , antibody , western blot , endocrinology , immunity , medicine , biology , pathology , immunology , gene , biochemistry
A patient, having a huge hepatic hemangioma, presented with decreases in the number of peripheral lymphocytes and in serum concentrations of γ‐globulin and immunoglobulin (Ig) G, and a negative purified protein derivatives skin test, indicating that the patient's immunity was impaired. The plasma concentration of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF‐β 1 ), a potent immunosuppressor, in the patient was markedly elevated (113 ng/mL, normal < 5). After the surgical removal of the tumor, the plasma TGF‐β 1 concentration decreased, and the patient's immunity was restored to normal. Northern blot analysis showed an overexpression of the TGF‐β 1 gene in the hemangioma tissue, while normal control liver tissue expressed undetectable levels of TGF‐β 1 messenger RNA. These results suggest that the elevated levels of TGF‐β 1 in the plasma were derived from the giant hemangioma tissue and may have contributed to the impaired immune function in the patient.