The role of TGF-beta 1 in mice hepatic fibrosis by Schistosomiasis Japonica.

To investigate the role of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in mice with hepatic fibrosis caused by Schistosomiasis Japonica, ELISA, VG staining and multimedia color hieroglyph quantitative analysis were used to study the change of the serum TGF-beta 1, liver collagen fiber and reticular fiber in mice. The level of serum TGF-beta 1 in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) 8, 10, 12 weeks after infected by schistosomiasis. After infection, the level of liver collagen fiber and reticular fiber, and that of TGF-beta 1 increased over time (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). In mice infected by Schistosomiasis Japonica, the level of TGF-beta 1 increased with prolongation of infection time, and with the increase of liver collagen fiber and reticular fiber. TGF beta 1 plays an important role of immunomodulation in hepatic fibrosis formation caused by Schistosomiasis Japonica.