RESUMO
This study was purposed to detect the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and its receptors (TGF-βR) and to investigate their roles in pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The expressions of TGF-β1 and their receptors TGF-βRI, TGF-βRII and TGF-βRIII in the peripheral blood of patients with ITP and healthy persons were detected by the real-time PCR, and differences of their expression levels were analysed. The results showed that the expression of TGF-β1 and TGF-βRII mRNA in ITP patients was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls, while the TGF-βRI mRNA expression in ITP patient was significantly lower than that in the controls. The expression of TGF-βRIII was not statistically different between the two groups. It is concluded that TGF-β1 and its receptors including TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII express abnormally in the peripheral blood of ITP patients, which suggests that the TGF-β signaling pathway probably play a vital role in the pathogenesis of the ITP.