title: Secretion of TFF-peptides by human salivary glands.
abstract: TFF-peptides (formerly P-domain peptides, trefoil factors) are typical secretory products of mucin-producing cells and seem to influence the rheological properties of mucous gels. Here, localization studies of TFF-peptides in human salivary glands are presented. Expression studies (polymerase chain reaction) revealed mainly TFF3 transcripts in submandibular and sublingual glands and trace amounts in parotid glands. Only low levels of expression of TFF1 could be monitored in submandibular and sublingual glands, and TFF2 transcripts were hardly detectable in all three major salivary glands. This result was partly confirmed by Western blot analysis, which only detected TFF3 in submandibular glands, but not in sublingual and parotid glands. TFF3 was also shown to be a constituent of human saliva. Immunofluorescence localized TFF3 solely in the secretory granules of serous cells of submandibular glands but not in mucous cells. This localization is remarkably similar to that of the unique low-molecular-weight mucin MUC7, which interacts with a number of oral microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Molekularbiologie und Medizinische Chemie, Universitätsklinikum, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jagla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiede
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hinz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dietzmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gülicher
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009077:Mucins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D009077:Mucins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; C051838:TFF1 protein, human; C000604007:TFF2 protein, human; C082495:TFF3 protein, human; C099037:TFF3 protein, rat; C000604008:Tff2 protein, rat; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins