title: Trefoil factor family mRNA and protein expression in pterygium.
abstract: Trefoil factor family (TFF) of proteins are involved in mucosal protection and healing and are induced in inflammatory diseases and neoplastic progression. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if expression of the trefoil factor family (TFF) proteins is altered in human pterygium compared to in normal conjunctiva. Fourteen pterygia (P) and 21 biopsies from normal human conjunctiva (NC) were studied. TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3 mRNA levels were measured by semi-quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and TFF1 mRNA levels in addition by real-time PCR. The cellular expression of TFF1 (pS2), TFF3 (intestinal trefoil factor) and M1/MUC5AC mucin in ten pterygia and ten normal human conjunctiva specimens was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using specific monoclonal antibodies. TFF1 mRNA levels were higher in P than in NC (p=0.02). Accordingly, intensity of TFF1 and mucin MUC5AC immunostaining was higher in P than in NC. Mucus-secreting goblet cells (GC) were more densely packed in P than in NC. In both cases, TFF1 protein was detected in GC only, but was not systematically expressed in all GC. In addition, TFF3 mRNA levels were similar (p=0.89) in NC and P, while TFF2 (spasmolytic polypeptide) mRNA were not detected. Both TFF3 and MUC5AC proteins were clearly detected in all GC identified in NC and P. Increased expression of TFF1 mRNA and protein is observed in pterygium GC, suggesting that this trefoil protein might exert protective and beneficial roles during the pathogenesis of this benign and inflammatory conjunctival tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University Hospital, 21033 Dijon Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Olivier
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Lafontaine
authors.forename: Murielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arnal
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buron
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Solary
authors.forename: Alain M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bron
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Westley
authors.forename: Felicity E B
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bara
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gespach
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Creuzot-Garcher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D008875:Middle Aged; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011625:Pterygium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C051838:TFF1 protein, human; C000604007:TFF2 protein, human; C082495:TFF3 protein, human; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins