Plasma TGF-β1, MMP-1 and MMP-3 Levels in Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) presenting clinically with upper abdominal pain, as well as exocrine and endocrine insufficiencies, is characterized by irreversible morphological and functional alterations in the pancreas. The objective of the present study is to investigate the plasma levels of transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1 (collagenase) and MMP-3 (stromelysin) in CP. A total of 71 CP patients and 100 control subjects were considered for the study. Plasma levels of TGF-β1, MMP-1 and MMP-3 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients and control subjects. The plasma levels of TGF-β1 and MMP-1 were significantly elevated in patients compared to control group (*P = 0.0301, **P < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in the plasma levels of MMP-3 between patients and controls (P = 0.3756). The elevated levels of TGF-β1 and MMP-1 may influence the inflammatory reactions by enhancing the pancreatic stellate cell activation and deposition of extracellular matrix resulting in pancreatic fibrosis. Thus, the present study highlights the role of fibrogenic cytokine marker TGF-β1 and matrix metalloproteinases in the pathogenesis of CP.