Aim: To study the relationship between expression of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and fibrogenesis in chronic hepatitis B.
Methods: Hepatic tissues from 43 patients with chronic hepatitis B were embedded in paraffin. The sections were stained with HE and picric acid-sirius red to determine inflammatory activity and fibrosis stages. PDGF-BB expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and assessed semiquantatively. Levels of serum hyaluronic acid (HA), pro-collagen III (PCIII), collagen IV (IV-C) and laminin (LN) were examined by radioimmunoassay (RIA).
Results: The expression level of PDGF-BB was found to be positively correlated with inflammatory activity, fibrosis stage and grade of histological findings (tau=0.58, 0.55, 0.55, P<0.01). The positive correlation was also observed between tissue level of PDGF-BB expression and contents of HA, PCIII, IV-C and LN in the circulation (r=0.52, 0.32, 0.40, 0.33, P<0.05).
Conclusion: PDGF-BB may play some role in the development and progression of liver fibrosis.