Molecular and cellular basis of ulcer healing.
BACKGROUND
The high ulcer recurrence rates after treatment with antacids or antisecretory drugs illustrate the need for direct treatment of GI ulcers by stimulating repair and healing mechanisms. The molecular regulators of ulcer healing include polyamines and growth factors such as EGF, TGF-beta, bFGF and PDGF.


RESULTS
Oral treatment of rats with bFGF or PDGF accelerated the healing of chronic cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers without decreasing gastric secretion. We found that sucralfate binds bFGF in vitro and in vivo, and the elevated local concentration of this growth factor may contribute to the ulcer healing properties of sucralfate. Parallel treatment with bFGF + sucralfate resulted in synergistic healing of chronic duodenal ulcers and chronic gastritis.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapid changes in mucosal concentration of bFGF and EGF receptors during ulceration suggest that these peptides play a role in the natural history of GI ulcers. Thus, treatment based on molecular and cellular mechanisms of ulcer healing allows a direct and efficient ulcer therapy.
Szabo
S
S
Dept. of Pathology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Kusstatscher
S
S
Sandor
Z
Z
Sakoulas
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005756:Gastritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D012008:Recurrence; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006133:Growth Substances; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D013392:Sucralfate