Expression of Transforming Growth Factor β1 in Patients With and Without Previous Abdominal Surgery

HYPOTHESIS: Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays an important role in the formation of adhesions after abdominal operations. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: University-based, tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Patients undergoing elective open abdominal operations were recruited and divided into 2 groups. Twenty-two patients with a history of abdominal surgery were designated as study patients, and 10 patients with no history of abdominal surgery served as controls. INTERVENTIONS: Samples of normal peritoneum, peritoneal scar tissues, and serum were obtained from all patients at the time of surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Samples were assayed for total TGF-beta1 expression using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Scar tissues expressed significantly greater amounts of TGF-beta1 (0.47 pg/ micro L) compared with normal peritoneal tissue from both study patients (0.29 pg/ micro L; P =.03) and controls (0.17 pg/ micro L; P =.002). Serum TGF-beta1 levels were also higher in study patients (1.71 pg/ micro L) compared with controls (1.22 pg/ micro L; P =.02). Neither adhesion nor serum TGF-beta1 expression correlated with time since last operation, total number of previous operations, or severity of intra-abdominal adhesions. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TGF-beta1 may play an important role in human peritoneal adhesion formation.