Methods
Varicose veins from patients undergoing varicose vein surgery were the studied material, whereas normal greater saphenous veins from patients undergoing infrainguinal arterial bypass surgery were the control material. Expression of TGF-beta RII mRNA was assessed with RT-PCR, whereas expression of TGF-beta RII and p-Smad2/3 proteins was assessed with Western blot.
Results
A significantly increased TGF-beta RII mRNA level was found in varicose veins (287 +/- 24%), when compared with normal veins (100 +/- 26%). The receptor protein expression reflected a changed mRNA level with significantly increased TGF-beta RII protein in varicose veins (290 +/- 21%), when compared with controls (100 +/- 16%). Enhanced TGF-beta RII expression was accompanied by increased p-Smad2/3 protein expression in varicose veins (257 +/- 19%) in comparison with normal veins (100 +/- 9%).