Loss of RegI in conjunction with gastrin deficiency in mice facilitates efficient gastric ulcer healing but is dispensable for hyperplasia and tumourigenesis

Abstract

RegI (Regenerating islet derived-1) was originally characterized as a growth factor involved in pancreatic islet cell regeneration. It is also considered a gastrointestinal mitogen as its expression is increased during pathologies involving aberrant cell proliferation that can lead to neoplasia. However, the absolute requirement for RegI to directly stimulate gastric mucosal cell proliferation in vivo requires further investigation. We used RegI-deficient mice to determine the requirement for RegI in normal gastric mucosal development, wound healing, hyperplasia and tumourigenesis. We found that epithelial repair of acetic acid ulcers in compound mutant RegI/gastrin-deficient mice was signif..