[Role of trefoil peptides in modulation of gastric adaptation to stress].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of trefoil peptides in modulation of gastric adaptation to water restraint stress (WRS) in rats.


METHODS
Wistar rats were exposed to single or repeated WRS for 4 hours every other day for up to 6 days, gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was measured by LDF-3 flowmeter, the extent of gastric mucosal lesions was evaluated grossly and histologically, and expression of PS2 intestinal trefoil peptide (ITF), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and transferase growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.


RESULTS
One application of WRS produced extensive gastric mucosal erosion. With repeated WRS, the gastric mucosa became adapted to the stress of WRS, and the ulcerative index (UI) was reduced by 22.0% that of one WRS challenge after four consecutive WRS. Expression of PS2 was markedly decreased and expression of ITF, COX-2, iNOS and TGF-alpha were markedly increased after single stress. But this adaptation to WRS was accompanied by increased GMBF and active cell proliferation in the neck region of gastric glands, and by increased expression of PS2, ITF, TGF-alpha, but reduced expression of COX-2 and iNOS.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric adaptation to WRS injury involves enhanced cell proliferation, increased expression of PS2, ITF, TGF-alpha and reduced expression of COX-2 and iNOS, suggesting trefoil peptides might play an important modulating role in this phenomenon.
Nie
Shi-nan
SN
Emergency Department, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Command, Clinical School of Medical College of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu, China.
Sun
Hai-chen
HC
Wu
Xue-hao
XH
Qian
Xiao-ming
XM
D000818:Animals; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3
D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C099037:TFF3 protein, rat; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C489691:Ptgs2 protein, rat