Expression of the proteins associated with transforming growth factor-beta/Smad signaling pathway in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of important proteins associated with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)/Smad signaling pathway in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) and investigate the correlation of these proteins to LKB1 gene expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression and localization of LKB1, TGFbeta1 and pSmad2 proteins in 20 PJS polyp samples and normal intestinal mucosal tissues were detected with immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of LKB1, TGFbeta1 and pSmad2 were lower in PJS polyps than in normal mucosa, and the differences in LKB1 and TGFbeta1 proteins were significantly different between them (P<0.05). In PJS polyps, positive correlations were found between LKB1 and TGFbeta1 and between TGFbeta1 and pSmad2 expressions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TGFbeta/Smad pathway is probably subjected to the regulation by LKB1 and may play a role in the occurrence of PJS.</p>