EXPERIMENTAL ULCERATIVE COLITIS: TGF-Β AS A DIAGNOSTIC MARKER

Document Type : Review Article

Author

Department of Biochemestry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt.

Abstract

Previous studies stated that TGF-β is a pleiotropic cytokine, abundant in mammalian intestine, regulates multiple cellular functions as a suppressor of the immune response, cell proliferation, and oncogenesis. Studyaims: Here, we investigated the value of TGF-β as a diagnostic marker of ulcerative colitis disease (UC) in experimental UC model.  Materials& Methods: Acute & chronic UC was induced in mice by using (3% and 1.5% respectively) DSS in drinking water. The induction of UC was confirmed by histopathological examination. Proteins and mRNA expression of both TGF-β and TNF-α were analyzed by western blot and real time PCR respectively. Complete blood count (CBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Results: A marked elevation occurred in proteins and mRNA expression of both TGF-β and TNF-α in UC tissues in acute and chronic groups vs. healthy group. Furthermore, significant elevation in both CRP and ESR of diseased groups was recorded in comparison to normal group < strong>.  Blood count revealed marked leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and marked decrease in red blood cell counts with severe anemia in both acute and chronic UC groups compared to healthy control group < strong>.   Conclusion: Increased levels of TGF-β protein and mRNA expression in UC disease might have a diagnostic value side by side with inflammatorybiomarkers (TNF-α, CRP & ESR), leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, bloody diarrhea and histopathological changes.

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