Cutaneous demonstration of transforming growth factor-β (tgf-β)‎ and cd68 in systemic sclerosis

Abstract EN

Objective : To determine whether transforming growth factor beta (TGF-) and macrophage-associated antigen (CD68) cells are distributed in the skin specimens of patients with systemic sclerosis.

Methodology : Twelve patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 10 sex and age matched healthy controls were included in this study.

All were subjected to : full history and clinical examination.

Local examination included : the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), Punch skin biopsies, Histological analysis and Immunohistochemical staining.

Results : The clinical severity of the disease (as assessed with the mRSS) correlated with changes in skin thickening as well as with the extra cellular matrix (ECM) molecular organization.

The skin fibrosis process firstly appeared in the deep dermis and progressed toward the papillary dermis in parallel with an increase in its clinical extent as clinically assessed by the mRSS values.

Number of (CD 68) positive inflammatory cells were significantly higher in SSc patient's skin than in controls.

Number of CD68 showed no correlation neither with the duration of SSc disease nor modified Rodnan skin score.

The staining intensity of TGF-% was significantly higher in SSc patient's skin than in controls.

Conclusions : CD68 and TGF-cells distributed in the skin specimens of patients with systemic sclerosis indicate their crucial roles in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis.