AIM: Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) plays a regulatory role in tissue repair. In a previous study, we found that TGF-β and its receptors were expressed in gastric mucosa of patients with well-healed gastric ulcers, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. To further characterize the role of TGF-β and its receptors in repairing gastric ulcers, we investigated the expression patterns of TGF-β and its receptors in gastric mucosa by in situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). METHODS: Seventy-four patients with endoscopically proven gastric ulcers were eligible for participation in this study. All patients had routine biopsies on initial endoscopy and were then treated for 12 wk with an H_2 blocker. Repeat endoscopy was then performed. There were 8 patients with poorly healed ulcers, and biopsies were taken from the margin of the residual ulcers. These tissue samples, along with biopsy of gastric mucosa near the original ulcers from 8 randomly selected patients with well-healed ulcers were examined for TGF-β and TGF-β receptor Ⅱ mRNA by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization, as well as immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: TGF-β and TGF-β receptor Ⅱ were strongly expressed in tissues from patients with well-healed ulcers. Four of the 8 patients with poor healing had low or absent expression of TGF-β or TGF-β receptor Ⅱ mRNA. All cases positive by RT-PCR assay were confirmed by in situ hybridization as well as immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that TGF-β and its receptors are important for gastric ulcer healing. These results may have implications for further investigation of the healing process and in predicting response to therapy. A previous study, we found that TGF-β and its receptors were expressed in gastric mucosa of patients with well-healed gastric ulcers, as demonstrated by A To further characterize the role of TGF-β and its receptors in repairing gastric ulcers, we investigated the expression patterns of TGF-β and its receptors in gastric mucosa by in situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR METHODS: Seventy-four patients with endoscopically proven gastric ulcers were eligible for participation in this study. All patients had routine biopsies on initial endoscopy and were then treated for 12 weeks with an H_2 blocker. patients with poorly healed ulcers, and biopsies were taken from the margin of the residual ulcers. These tissue samples, along with biopsy of gastric mucosa near the original ulcers from 8 rand omly selected patients with well-healed ulcers were examined for TGF-β and TGF-β receptor Ⅱ mRNA by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization, as well as immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: TGF-β and TGF-β receptor Ⅱ were strongly expressed in tissues from patients with well-healed ulcers. Four of the 8 patients with poor healing had low or absent expression of TGF-beta or TGF-beta receptor II mRNA. All cases positive by RT-PCR assay confirmed by in situ hybridization as well as immunohistochemistry. It is suggested that TGF-β and its receptors are important for gastric ulcer healing. These results may have implications for further investigation of the healing process and in predicting response to therapy.