OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of tongue coating fluid protein in regulation of congestive heart failure(CHF) in Qi-deficiency-blood-stasis syndrome.METHODS: We studied patients with CHF(3 patients with Qi-deficiency-blood-stasis syndrome and 3 without Qi-deficiency-blood-stasis syndrome) to investigate differentially expressed proteins. We also included a control group. A biotin label-based antibody array was used for testing tongue coating fluid samples from patients. Net-work analysis of these differentially expressed proteins was conducted using the STRING database,which can predict the relations between differentially expressed proteins and CHF with Qi-deficiency-blood-stasis syndrome.RESULTS: A total of seven differentially expressed proteins were identified, and among these, transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1) gets a particular attention for us has drawn specific attention.Network analysis showed a homologous relationship of TGF-β1 with bone morphogenetic protein15, which is associated with myocardial fibrosis.CONCLUSION: Occurrence and development of CHF may result from certain DE-proteins and associated signaling pathways. TGF-β1 protein may be a candidate marker for assessing the risk of CHF in Qideficiency-blood-stasis syndrome.