Background Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which is regulated by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), has recently been implicated in skin fibrosis and atherosclerosis. In the present study, the authors analyzed the concomitant presence of TGF-β1 and its signaling receptors—TGF-β receptor I, subtype ALK5 (TβR-I ALK5), and TGF-β receptor II (TβR-II)—as well as CTGF and collagen type I in the pancreatic tissue of patients undergoing surgery for chronic pancreatitis.

Patients and Methods CP tissue samples were obtained from 40 patients (8 women, 32 men) undergoing pancreatic resection. Tissue samples of 25 previously healthy organ donors (12 women, 13 men) served as controls. The expression of TGF-β1, TβR-I ALK5, TβR-II, CTGF, and collagen type I was studied by Northern blot analysis. By in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, the respective mRNA moieties and proteins were localized in the tissue samples.

Results Northern blot analysis showed that CP tissue samples exhibited concomitant enhanced mRNA expression of TGF-β1 (38-fold), TβR-II (5-fold), CTGF (25-fold), and collagen type I (24-fold) compared with normal controls. In addition, TβR-I ALK5 mRNA was increased in 50% of CP tissue samples (1.8-fold). By in situ hybridization, TGF-β1, TβR-I ALK5, and TβR-II mRNA were often seen to be colocalized, especially in the ductal cells and in metaplastic areas where atrophic acinar cells appeared to dedifferentiate into ductal structures. In contrast, CTGF was located in degenerating acinar cells and principally in fibroblasts surrounding these areas. Moreover, CTGF mRNA expression levels correlated positively with the degree of fibrosis in CP tissues.

Conclusion The concomitant overexpression of CTGF, collagen type I, TGF-β1, and its signaling receptors in CP suggests that these proteins contribute to enhanced extracellular matrix synthesis and accumulation, resulting finally in the fibrogenesis observed in CP.