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Role of growth factors and their receptors in gastric ulcer healing
Author(s) -
Milani Stefano,
Calabrò Antonio
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1104
Subject(s) - growth factor , wound healing , extracellular matrix , epidermal growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , transforming growth factor , biology , platelet derived growth factor receptor , hepatocyte growth factor , connective tissue , growth factor receptor inhibitor , fibroblast growth factor , receptor , cancer research , vascular endothelial growth factor , growth factor receptor , immunology , signal transduction , biochemistry , genetics , vegf receptors
The repair of gastric ulcers requires the reconstitution of epithelial structures and the underlying connective tissue, including vessels and muscle layers. Several growth factors have been implicated in this process, since they are able to regulate important cell functions, such as cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, secretion, and degradation of extracellular matrix, all of which are essential during tissue healing. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor‐α (TGF‐α), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and trefoil factors (TFFs) are mainly involved in the reconstitution of the epithelial structures. Plateled derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) play a major role in the reconstitution of connective tissue, including vessels and smooth muscle cells, and provide the extracellular matrix substrate for cell migration and differentiation. The expression of these growth factors and their receptors is increased during ulcer healing and, in some cases, intracellular signaling related to receptor binding and trasduction has been demonstrated. EGF, TGF‐α and TFFs are normaly present either in the gastric juice or in the mucosa, and may exert their effects immediately after damage, before newly synthesized EGF and TFFs are released from the ulcer margin. The inhibition of their effects by neutralizing antibodies may result in delayed ulcer healing, while the administration of recombinant or natural analogues may improve ulcer repair. In this review, we will summarize the basic molecular characteristics of some of these growth factors, and will discuss available evidence supporting their role in the ulcer repair process. Microsc. Res. Tech. 53:360–371, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.