ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the role of TGF-? 1 and -? 2 in the pathogenesis of scleroderma(SD) and the relationship between this kind of cytokines and the clinical types of SD. Methods The TGF-? 1 and -? 2 mRNA and protein expressions in lesions of 17 patients with SD and 10 normal controls were detected using in situ RT-PCR technique and immunohistochemistry SP assay respectively. Results ①The positive rate and the expression strength of TGF-? 1 mRNA expression in the SD group were much higher than those in control group. There was no difference in TGF-? 1 mRNA expression between the localized SD and SSc patients. ②The positive rate and expression strength of TGF-? 1 and -? 2 proteins in SD group were much higher than those in control group. There was no difference in TGF-? 1 and -? 2 protein expressions between localized SD and SSc cases. Conclusion ①The positive rate and expression strength of TGF-? 1 mRNA in SD patients increased, which implied that TGF-? 1 mRNA may play an important role in fibrosis of SD. ②The positive rate and expression strength of TGF-? 1 and -? 2 proteins were more elevated in SD,which suggested that TGF-? 1 and -? 2 proteins were associated with skin fibrosis of SD. ③There was no relationship between the expression of TGF-? 1 and TGF-? 2 mRNA or proteins and the clinical types of SD, which indicated that there may be a similar pathogenesis for localized SD and SSc.