Increased ΤGF-β3 in primary biliary cirrhosis: An abnormality related to pathogenesis?

Figure 1 Transforming growth factor-β1 (A), transforming growth factor-β2 (B) and transforming growth factor-β3 (C). A: Box plots showing the interquartile range (box), median (horizontal line) and range (vertical lines) of the serum levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in normal controls, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), viral cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis C (CAH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) stages I-II, PBC stages III-IV, in hepatic vein blood from PBC and viral cirrhosis patients (central). B, C: Box plots showing the interquartile range (box), median (horizontal line) and range (vertical lines) in the peripheral and hepatic vein serum levels of TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 of the same group of patients. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^dP < 0.001.

Figure 2 Immunocytochemistry for transforming growth factor-β1, transforming growth factor-β2 and transforming growth factor-β3. A: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in viral cirrhosis. Positive cholangiocytes (arrows), cells in the hepatic arterial wall and many positive lymphocytes (arrowheads); B: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) stage II, TGF-β2. Numerous positive cholangioles and positive mononuclear cells, probably lymphocytes; C: TGF-β3 in viral cirrhosis. Many positive hyperplastic cholangioles and positive lymphocytes; D: PBC stage I, TGF-β3. Hepatocytes vaguely stained. Strong staining of sinusoidal cells; E: PBC stage IV, TGF-β3. Positive hepatocytes, cholangioles and mononuclear cells; F: PBC stage IV, negative control. Magnifications are A, B and F × 400; C-E, × 200.

Figure 3 Immunofluorescence for transforming growth factor-β in PBC 3. A: Many positive mononuclear cells. Rim staining of varying intensity is evident. Some cells with low rim staining seem to infiltrate a bile ductule; B: Hepatocytes strongly stained in stage IV.