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Trefoil peptides and surgical disease
R J Longman1, M G Thomas, R Poulsom
1University Department of Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
The British Journal of Surgery
|June 26, 1999
Summary
Trefoil peptides are key proteins in mucosal healing and disease. Future research may use trefoil peptides as biomarkers for gastrointestinal conditions and develop them into novel therapies.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
Background:
- Trefoil peptides are small proteins expressed in specific epithelial tissues.
- They play a role in mucosal healing and are implicated in neoplastic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on trefoil peptides.
- To understand their role in gastrointestinal health and disease.
Main Methods:
- Extensive literature search of the Medline database.
- Manual search of references from identified articles.
Main Results:
- Trefoil peptides are aberrantly expressed in human carcinomas and gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions.
- They protect the gastrointestinal mucosa from injury, potentially by interacting with mucin glycoproteins.
- Trefoil peptides influence epithelial cell migration and mucosal repair after injury.
Conclusions:
- Serum trefoil peptide levels could serve as diagnostic markers for neoplastic and inflammatory diseases.
- Novel therapies using trefoil peptides may treat gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions and enhance mucosal repair post-surgery.