title: Can we protect the gut in critical illness? The role of growth factors and other novel approaches.
abstract: The intestine plays a central role in the pathophysiology of critical illness and is frequently called the "motor" of the systemic inflammatory response. Perturbations to the intestinal barrier can lead to distant organ damage and multiple organ failure. Therefore, identifying ways to preserve intestinal integrity may be of paramount importance. Growth factors and other peptides have emerged as potential tools for modulation of intestinal inflammation and repair due to their roles in cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival. This review examines the involvement of growth factors and other peptides in intestinal epithelial repair during critical illness and their potential use as therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, 12700 East 19th Avenue, Campus Box 8602, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Jessica.dominguez@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Craig M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Coopersmith
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins