Overproduction of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-b1) is associated with adhesion formation and peritoneal fibrinolytic impairment

• Published in: Surgery Vol. 129; no. 5; pp. 626 - 632
• Main Authors: Holmdahl, Lena, Kotseos, Kristina, Bergström, Maria, Falk, Peter, Ivarsson, Marie-Louise, Chegini, Nasser
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.05.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abdomen; Biological and medical sciences; Medical sciences; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; Human; Peritoneal adhesion; Iatrogenic; Cytokine; Biosynthesis; Biological activity; Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1; Abdominal disease; Surgery; Adult; Complication; Qualitative analysis; Transforming growth factor β1; Elderly; Growth factor; Quantitative analysis; Peritoneum
• ISSN: 0039-6060; 1532-7361
• DOI: 10.1067/msy.2001.113039

Background. Reduction in peritoneal fibrinolytic capacity and increased transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF -β1) production are associated with adhesion development. This study investigated the expression of TGF-b1 in peritoneal tissue, and possible correlation with components of the fibrinolytic system locally in peritoneal tissue. Materials and methods. Peritoneal samples were taken from 22 patients at relaparotomy. Samples of adhesions were collected from 10 patients. The patients were categorized into different groups depending on the quantity and the quality of adhesions. TGF-β1 and components of the fibrinolytic system in tissue extracts were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results. The concentration of active TGF-β1 in peritoneal samples from patients with extensive adhesions was double (P <.01) that of healthy subjects, but the total levels of TGF-β1 were similar (P =.63). In adhesion tissue, both active (P <.003) and total (P <.008) TGF-β1 concentrations were more than twice as high as unaffected peritoneum. There was a significant correlation between the concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 in peritoneal samples with active TGF-β1 (P <.03, r = 0.693) and adhesion tissue with total TGF-β1 (P =.001, r = 0.872). The other components of the fibrinolytic system did not correlate significantly with TGF-β1. Conclusions. These data indicate that an overexpression of TGF-β1 is associated with adhesion formation, possibly through a mechanism involving local regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1. (Surgery 2001;129:626-32.)