title: Trefoil factor expression in normal and diseased human salivary glands.
abstract: Trefoil factors are wound-healing peptides important in protection and healing of the human gastrointestinal tract. Their potential for therapy of gastrointestinal ulcers has been established. This study investigated the hypothesis that trefoil factors are also present in human salivary gland. Tissues from surgical biopsy specimens were collected fresh into ice and stored in liquid nitrogen. Breast, stomach, and colon constituted positive controls. Trefoil factor mRNAs were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or by in situ hybridization (ISH) with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Amplified DNA fragments were ligated into pGEM-T Easy vector and used to transform competent Escherichia coli JM109, allowing sequencing to confirm identity of cloned fragments. Generation of amplifiable cDNA was confirmed using primers specific to the ubiquitously expressed abl gene. By RT-PCR, TFF1 (pS2) mRNA was detected in 14 of 15 glands, TFF3 (hITF) mRNA in 13, and TFF2 (hSP) in only 1 gland. ISH of 15 glands (7 of which had been studied by RT-PCR) showed the same pattern of expression and indicated that TFF1 mRNA was usually expressed at low levels by a few mucous cells, whereas TFF3 was produced abundantly by most mucous cells. There was no difference in patterns of expression comparing parotid, submandibular, and minor mucous glands. Nor was there an obvious relationship between trefoil factor expression and pathology, but those glands not expressing TFF1 or TFF3 had evidence of chronic inflammation or atrophy. Trefoil factors are likely to be important in healing, predisposition to, and therapy of, oral diseases.
authors.affiliation: Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: High
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poulsom
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bonass
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D009077:Mucins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000604007:TFF2 protein, human; C099037:TFF3 protein, rat; C000604008:Tff2 protein, rat; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3