title: Growth factors and ulcerative gastrointestinal disease.
abstract: A huge variety of peptides and cytokines are involved in the maintenance of mucosal integrity and in the inflammatory response at sites of ulceration. Most studies have focused on the effects of an individual factor in this complex process. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that, to fully understand their importance in vivo, we should consider their function as part of a highly integrated system. It is also becoming clear that a relatively small number of common pathways are brought into play by the host in response to a wide variety of intestinal insults.
authors.affiliation: Leicester General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Playford
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shaw-Smith
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000209:etiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014359:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kazal Pancreatic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014359:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kazal Pancreatic; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors