October 1, 1996Annual Review of Physiology
The Trefoil Peptide Family
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Discussion
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Implication
Review uncovers protective structural adaptations and reparative roles of gastrointestinal trefoil peptides, indicating essential functions in maintaining mucosal barrier integrity.
Key Points
- To outline the structural configuration, expression patterns, and physiological functions of the trefoil peptide family within the mammalian gastrointestinal tract.
- Characterized the disulfide bond architecture of the conserved six-cysteine trefoil motif across peptide family members.
- Evaluated the mucosal secretion profiles and expression sites of pS2, intestinal trefoil factor, and spasmolytic polypeptide in healthy and inflamed tissue.
- Identified a distinctive three-loop trefoil motif formed by 1-5, 2-4, and 3-6 intrachain disulfide bonds that provides stability against proteolytic digestion in the gut lumen.
- Demonstrated co-expression of trefoil peptides with mucin glycoproteins in mucus-secreting cells and ectopic upregulation adjacent to areas of inflammation to facilitate epithelial wound healing.
Cite This Study
Sands et al. (1996) studied this question.