Level of serum transforming growth factor-beta1 in different rheumatological disorders

ABSTRACT

To detect the serum level of transforming growth factor- beta[1] [TGF- beta[1]] in Beh‡et disease, systemic lupus erythromatosis [SLE] and rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. Also, to compare them with healthy controls, to determine the relationship between TGF- beta[1], and other parameters of disease activity. The study was performed on 50 subjects. Ten patients had Beh‡et disease, 14 had SLE, 16 had RA besides 10 healthy controls. At the time of the study, all patients had clinically active disease and were subjected to detailed clinical assessment and laboratory investigations. None of them were using immunosuppressive drugs. Steroids were discontinued 30 days before blood samples were collected. Estimation of serum TGF- beta[1] was done using TGF- beta[1] Elisa kit. There was a statistically significant decrease in the mean level of TGF- beta[1] in our SLE group, while there was a statistically significant increase in our RA group. On the other hand, there wasn't any statistically significant difference in our Beh‡et group as compared with the control group [mean 72.5 +/- 9.6, 139.3 +/- 23.8, 105.0 +/- 4.7, 102.0 +/- 8.5, p<0.05, p>0.05 respectively]. Neither sex nor the presence of oral or genital ulcers, eye affection, or superficial or deep phlebitis showed any significant difference in Beh‡et patients with or without those manifestations [p>0.05]. The mean serum level of TGF- beta[1] showed a negative significant correlation with disease duration in the Beh‡et group [r -0.65, p<0.05]. In the SLE group, a significant difference in the mean level of TGF- beta[1] was detected only in patients having CNS manifestations, Raynauds phenomenon or oral ulcers [p<0.05]. Also, there was a negative correlation between the ESR and TGF- beta[1] [r -0.93, p<0.05]. In the RA group, patients having positive rheumatoid nodules showed a significant difference in level of TGF- beta[1] [p<0.05]. Both the disease activity index and the ESR showed a positive significant correlation with level of TGF- beta[1], while both the disease duration and total leucocytic count showed a negative one [r 0.59, r 0.72, - 0.55, -0.85 respectively, p<0.05]. Our results suggest that the serum level of TGF- beta[1] could play a role in the immunologic defect of different rheumatological disorders