Trefoil peptides and surgical disease.
BACKGROUND
Trefoil peptides are a family of small proteins that are expressed in a site-specific fashion by certain epithelial tissues. These peptides appear to be important in mucosal healing processes and in neoplastic disease.


METHODS
This manuscript reviews the relevant literature obtained by an extensive text word search of the Medline database and a manual search of references from the articles identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Trefoil peptides are aberrantly expressed by a wide range of human carcinomas and gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions. They impart protection from injury to the gastrointestinal mucosa by possible interaction with mucin glycoproteins. Trefoil peptides influence epithelial cell migration and mucosal restitution following injury. In the future, serum levels of trefoil peptides might be used as markers for both neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. In addition, novel therapies based on such peptides might be used for gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions and to accelerate repair of the gastrointestinal mucosa after surgery.
Longman
R J
RJ
University Department of Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
Thomas
M G
MG
Poulsom
R
R
D015415:Biomarkers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009077:Mucins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; D014945:Wound Healing
D015415:Biomarkers; D006133:Growth Substances; D009077:Mucins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; C099037:TFF3 protein, rat; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3