Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is known as the growth factor that stimulates the synthesis of extracellular matrix. Recently, TGF-β has been found to control the growth of cancer cells. Small chondroitin-dermatan sulfate (decorin) is an abundant extracellular matrix component. TGF-β1 stimulates the synthesis of decorin, and decorin is considered to bind TGF-β1. The activity of decorin in neutralizing TGF-β1 activity suggests that decorin serves as a negative-feedback regulator of TGF-β1 activity. To investigate the role and relationship of TGF-β1 and decorin in the formation of central fibrosis in pulmonary adenocarcinoma, we performed an immunohistochemical study of TGF-β1 and decorin in 61 cases of T1 pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Positive stainings for TGF-β1 were shown in 40 cases and negative in 21 cases. Twenty-seven of 32 cases with central fibrosis were positive for TGF-β1. Positive staining for TGF-β1 was significantly related to the appearance of central fibrosis in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. When central fibrosis was composed of proliferative connective tissue with loose staining for decorin, cancer cells showed intense staining for TGF-β1. When central fibrosis was composed of old fibrotic tissue with dense staining for decorin, cancer cells showed weak staining for TGF-β1. Our results suggests that TGF-β1 has an important role in the formation of central fibrosis in pulmonary adenocarcinoma, and decorin may play a role as a negative feedback regulator in the production of TGF-β1 in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
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