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Serum transforming growth factor‐β1 levels increase in response to successful anti‐inflammatory therapy in ulcerative colitis
Author(s) -
Sambuelli A.,
Diez R. A.,
Sugai E.,
Boerr L.,
Negreira S.,
Gil A.,
Camartino G.,
Huernos S.,
Doldán I.,
Felstiner D.,
Bai J. C.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2000.00861.x
Subject(s) - ulcerative colitis , medicine , transforming growth factor , cytokine , interferon gamma , interferon , growth factor , gastroenterology , endocrinology , immunology , disease , receptor
Objective: To investigate serum levels of transforming growth factor‐β1 and interferon‐γ in active ulcerative colitis and to assess changes during treatment. Methods: We prospectively evaluated serum from 25 patients with untreated active ulcerative colitis and 19 healthy controls. Disease activity score (DAI), serum transforming growth factor‐β1 and interferon‐γ levels were measured at baseline and after 7 days of conventional treatment. Disease activity score and transforming growth factor‐β1 were also assessed at 42 days. Results: Baseline transforming growth factor‐β1 levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls ( P < 0.02). On the 7th day, transforming growth factor‐β1 levels increased only in patients who responded ( P < 0.01); variations in transforming growth factor‐β1 levels and disease activity score were inversely correlated ( r =– 0.72, P < 0.001). At day 42, serum transforming growth factor‐β1 decreased significantly compared with the 7th day ( P < 0.05). While in controls, interferon‐γ was undetectable; untreated patients had higher, widely variable, levels. At day 7, responders had higher interferon‐γ values than unresponsive cases. Variations in interferon‐γ correlated moderately with changes in transforming growth factor‐β1 ( r =0.53, P < 0.05). Cytokine response did not depend upon the type of treatment. Conclusions: Both transforming growth factor‐β1 and interferon‐γ may play a role in the injury–repair process in active ulcerative colitis. Variations in circulating transforming growth factor‐β1 levels in the first week of treatment seem to be related to the therapeutic response.