TGF-β in blood cells is significantly elevated in patients with ME/CFS

pubmed:
 

J Formos Med Assoc. 2011 Nov;110(11):701-4. Epub 2011 Oct 22.

Up-regulation of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Zhang HY, Liu ZD, Hu CJ, Wang DX, Zhang YB, Li YZ.

Source

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100730, China.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

It has been shown that the abnormality in immune cells in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients is closely associated with the participation of TGF-β. In order to study the relationship between TGF-β1 and CFS, we investigated the mRNA levels of TGF-β1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with CFS.

METHODS:

Fluorescent quantitative real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR) was performed to test TGF-β1 mRNA expression in PBMCs in 63 cases of CFS, 50 cases of disease controls, and 50 cases of healthy controls.

RESULTS:

The mean value of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in CFS patients was ΔΔCt=1.17±0.58, which was significantly higher than the disease controls (ΔΔCt=0.07±1.08, df=111, p < 0.01) and the healthy controls (ΔΔCt=0.00±1.63, df=111, p < 0.01). No significant difference was detected between disease and healthy controls (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The expression of TGF-β1 in PBMCs is significantly elevated in patients with CFS. It might be correlated to the pathogenesis of the disease.

Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.

PMID:

 

22118314

 

[PubMed - in process]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a protein that controls proliferation, cellular differentiation, and other functions in most cells. It plays a role in immunity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Marfan syndrome, and Loeys–Dietz syndrome.