An immunohistochemical study on transforming growth factor-beta in the skin of systemic sclerosis patients with reference to the histopathologic stage

It has been suggested that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays a pathogenic role in the development of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Previous studies on TGF-beta expression in SSc skin using immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization are controversial. In the present study, we investigated the expression of TGF-beta in the skin of patients with SSc using an immunohistochemical method. We compared the staining pattern or intensity of TGF-beta with reference to the histopathologic stage of the skin. Most specimens in the early stage revealed a positive labelling with anti-TGF-beta antibody both in the epidermis and the dermis. In contrast, TGF-beta immunoreactivity decreased or diminished in the later stage. These results may support the importance of the role of TGF-beta in the pathogenesis of SSc.