Plasma TGF insystemic sclerosis: a cross- sectional study

Objectives-To determinewhetherthe active25 kDa form ofthefibrogenic cytokine transforming growthfactor (TGFj3) can bedetected inplasmafrom patients withsystemic sclerosis and to examinetherelationship betweenplasma TGF(3and clinical markersofdisease severity andserum concentrations ofthe aminoterminal peptideoftype IIIprocollagen (PIIINP) (alaboratory markerof thefibrotic process). Methods-A cross sectional studywas madeof39patients withsystemic sclerosis (11diffuse and28limited), ninepatients withprimaryRaynaud'sdiseaseand 60 healthy controls. TGF(31andTGFPi2 were measuredby enzyme linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA)(sensitivity 100pg/ ml)andPIIINPbyradioimmunoassay. Results-TGFPII was detected inplasma from sixof39 patients withsystemic sclerosis but not in any patientwith primaryRaynaud'sdisease or healthy controls. TGFR2was not detectedin plasmafrompatients or controls. No clear relationship was demonstrated between TGF(31,clinical featuresor PIIINP concentrations. Conclusions-The 25kDa formofTGF(31 can be detected intheplasmaofsome patients with systemicsclerosis. This provideslimitedsupport for the hypothesis thatthiscytokine plays a role in the pathogenesis of thisdisease. However,longitudinal studies, particularly inearly diffuse disease, are required to clarifythe relationship between circulating TGFOi1 anddisease activity.