Temporal expression of trefoil peptides in the TGF-α knockout mouse after gastric ulceration

Abstract

Trefoil peptides are gut peptides that have been implicated in the repair of the gastric mucosa after injury. Previous studies suggest that epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor ligands may induce the expression of trefoil peptides. Because transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) is a major EGF receptor ligand in the gut, we tested the hypothesis that mice with a TGF-α null mutation (knockout) would have reduced trefoil peptide expression compared with wild-type controls after gastric ulceration. The rate of macroscopic ulcer healing was the same in knockout and wild-type mice. Spasmolytic polypeptide (SP) and intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) expression were quantified in tissue and gastric lav..