Role of TFF in healing of stress-induced gastric lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the changes of pS2 and ITF of TFF expression in gastric mucosa and the effect on ulcer healing of pS2, ITF to Water-immersion and restraint stress (WRS) in rats.


METHODS
Wistar rats were exposed to single or repeated WRS for 4 h every other day for up to 6 days.Gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was measured by LDF-3 flowmeter and the extent of gastric mucosal lesions were evaluated grossly and histologically. Expression of pS2 and ITF mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to further detect the expression of pS2 and ITF.


RESULTS
WRS applied once produced numerous gastric mucosal erosions, but the number of these lesions gradually declined and GMBF restored at 2, 4, 8 h after stress. The area of gastric mucosal lesion was reduced by 64.9 % and GMBF was increased by 89.8 % at 8 h. The healing of stress-induced ulcerations was accompanied by increased expression of pS2 (0.51+/-0.14 vs 0.77+/-0.11, P<0.01) and ITF (0.022+/-0.001 vs 0.177+/-0.010, P<0.01). The results were demonstrated further by immunohistochemistry of pS2 (0.95+/-0.11 vs 1.41+/-0.04, P<0.01) and ITF (0.134+/-0.001 vs 0.253+/-0.01,P<0.01). With repeated WRS, adaptation to this WRS developed, the area of gastric mucosal lesions was reduced by 22.0 % after four consecutive WRS. This adaptation to WRS was accompanied by increased GMBF (being increased by 94.2 %), active cell proliferation in the neck region of gastric glands, and increased expression of pS2 (0.37+/-0.02 vs 0.77+/-0.01, P<0.01) and ITF (0.040+/- 0.001 vs 0.372+/-0.010, P<0.01). The result was demonstrated further by immunohistochemistry of pS2 (0.55+/-0.04 vs 2.46+/-0.08, P<0.01) and ITF (0.134+/-0.001 vs 0.354+/-0.070, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
TFF may not only participate in the early phase of epithelial repair known as restitution (maked by increased cell migration), but also play an important role in the subsequent, protracted phase of glandular renewal(made by cell proliferation).
Nie
Shi-Nan
SN
Emergency Department, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Command/Clinical School of Medical College of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China. shnnie630504@.sohu.com
Qian
Xiao-Ming
XM
Wu
Xue-Hao
XH
Yang
Shi-Yu
SY
Tang
Wen-Jie
WJ
Xu
Bao-Hua
BH
Huang
Fang
F
Lin
Xin
X
Sun
Dong-Yan
DY
Sun
Hai-Chen
HC
Li
Zhao-Shen
ZS
D000818:Animals; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009077:Mucins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications*; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; D014945:Wound Healing
D006133:Growth Substances; D009077:Mucins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; C099037:TFF3 protein, rat; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3