The C-terminal flanking peptide of progastrin induces gastric cell apoptosis andstimulates colonic cell division in vivo

Abstract

Progastrin (PG) is processed into a number of smaller peptides including amidated gastrin (Gamide), non-amidated glycine-extended gastrin (Ggly) and the C-terminal flanking peptide (CTFP). Several groups havereported that PG, Gamide and Ggly are biologically active in vitro and in vivo, and are involved in thedevelopment of gastrointestinal cancers. CTFP is bioactive in vitro but little is known of its effects in vivo.This study investigated the bioactivity of CTFP in vivo in normal tissues using gastrin deficient (GASKO)mice and in two mouse models of cancer (SCID mice bearing xenograft tumors expressing normal orknocked-down levels of gastrin and a mouse model of hepatic metastasis). As wi..