title: Trefoil factor family peptides in human saliva and cyclical cervical mucus. Method evaluation and results on healthy individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trefoil peptides are 7-12 kDa molecules, se-creted by a variety of mucin-producing epithelial cells from different tissues and believed to be essential for protection and maintenance of gastrointestinal mucosa. Data on concentrations of trefoil peptides in secretions are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  We validated in-house ELISA assays, developed for measurement of trefoil peptide concentrations (TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3) in serum, for use with saliva and cervical mucus. Saliva from healthy individuals (n=30), and cervical mucus as well as blood collected three times during the menstrual cycle from healthy women (n=18) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recovery of all trefoil peptides in the initial supernatants of saliva and (cervical mucus) were 86 and (92)% or more. Recovery of exogenously added trefoil peptides was 93 and (95)% or more. Western blotting showed that antibodies used in the TFF3-ELISA assay recognised one molecule of the same size as TFF3 in both saliva and cervical mucus. Median concentrations of TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3 in saliva and (cervical mucus) were 2.7 (2.7), 0.08 (0.58) and 14 (430) nmol/g protein, with a significant decrease in concentrations in cervical mucus after ovulation. Serum concentrations resembled previously measured values in blood donors and showed no cyclic change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previously established ELISA assays can be employed for measurement of trefoil peptides in saliva and cervical mucus. TFF3 was the predominant trefoil peptide in both saliva and cervical mucus, and TFF3 in cervical mucus represents the highest concentration measured in a biological fluid to date.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. mie.samson@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Mie Hessellund
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: Ponlatham
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaiyarit
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nortvig
authors.forename: Else Marie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Ebba
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nexo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D014680:Veins; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; C000604007:TFF2 protein, human; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2