Biomaterial Database

Trefoil peptides: what are they and what do they do? 1997

R J Playford

Leicester General Hospital.

The trefoil peptides help to protect the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. They have two beneficial roles in the gastrointestinal tract: 1. In basal circumstances, they may play a role in mucus stabilisation. 2. When an acute injury occurs, their rapid upregulation is important in stimulating the repair process, particularly that of epithelial restitution. The trefoil peptide motif consists of a unique 'three-loop' structure formed by intrachain disulphide bonds. Three members of this family have been identified in humans; spasmolytic polypeptide, intestinal trefoil factor and pS2. The trefoil peptides are expressed by mucus-producing cells throughout the normal gastrointestinal tract in a site-specific manner. In addition, the production of all three trefoil peptides is ectopically expressed in cells surrounding areas of damage in conditions such as peptic ulceration and inflammatory bowel disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009077	Mucins	High molecular weight mucoproteins that protect the surface of EPITHELIAL CELLS by providing a barrier to particulate matter and microorganisms. Membrane-anchored mucins may have additional roles concerned with protein interactions at the cell surface.	Mucin
D009093	Mucus	The viscous secretion of mucous membranes. It contains mucin, white blood cells, water, inorganic salts, and exfoliated cells.
D009124	Muscle Proteins	The protein constituents of muscle, the major ones being ACTINS and MYOSINS. More than a dozen accessory proteins exist including TROPONIN; TROPOMYOSIN; and DYSTROPHIN.	Muscle Protein,Protein, Muscle,Proteins, Muscle
D009130	Muscle, Smooth	Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D009479	Neuropeptides	Peptides released by NEURONS as intercellular messengers. Many neuropeptides are also hormones released by non-neuronal cells.	Neuropeptide
D010455	Peptides	Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.	Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D006133	Growth Substances	Signal molecules that are involved in the control of cell growth and differentiation.	Mitogens, Endogenous,Endogenous Mitogens
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000071164	Trefoil Factor-2	A 106 amino acid (12 kDa) trefoil factor that contains two trefoil domains and associates with MUCIN-6. It is expressed in the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT by cells of BRUNNER GLANDS; PYLORIC GLANDS and mucous neck cells. It inhibits GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY and GASTRIC ACID secretion and may help maintain the structural integrity of gastric mucus.	TFF2 Peptide,TFF2 Protein,Trefoil Factor 2
D000071165	Trefoil Factor-3	A 59 amino acid (6.6 kDa) trefoil factor that contains a single trefoil domain. It is expressed in all tissues with MUCOUS MEMBRANES, including GOBLET CELLS of the SMALL INTESTINE and LARGE INTESTINE. It associates with MUCIN-2 in the small intestine and may regulate epithelial CELL MIGRATION and WOUND HEALING.	Intestinal Trefoil Factor,TFF3 Peptide,TFF3 Protein,Trefoil Factor 3,Trefoil Factor, Intestinal