Figure 4

The protein level of TGF-β in the plasma was elevated in SSc patients. (a) TGF-β level detected by ELISA in plasma samples from patients with SSc, LSc, and healthy controls. (b) LTBP-4 level was elevated in the plasma of SSc patients with esophagus involvement. (c) LTBP-4 level was elevated in the plasma of SSc patients with pulmonary fibrosis. (d) Plasma TGF-β levels correlated positively with LTBP-4 levels in normal controls, and LSc and SSc patients (r=0.385, P<0.0001). Results represent the mean±s.e.m. in each group. **P<0.01, *P<0.05. LTBP-4, latent TGF-β-binding protein 4; LSc, localized scleroderma; SSc, systemic scleroderma; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β.