Expression and localization of trefoil factor family genes in rat submandibular glands

Trefoil factor 3 shows anti-inflammatory effects on activated microglia

Microglial cells are a major source of pro-inflammatory cytokines during central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. They can develop a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype and an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Shifting the phenotype from M1 to M2 might be an important mechanism to overcome CNS inflammation and to prevent or reduce neuronal damage. Here, we demonstrate that the anti-inflammatory protein trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) is secreted by astrocytes and that its transcription is significantly reduced after incubation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Moreover, we demonstrate that microglial cells cultured in the presence of TFF3 show reduced expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines after LPS stimulation.

Expression of epidermal growth factor and somatostatin in submandibular glands of rats with acute alcohol intoxication

AIM: To detect the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and somatostatin (SS) in submandibular glands of rats with acute alcohol intoxication.

METHODS: Male rats (n = 36) were divided into a normal control group (NCG, n = 12) and an experiment group (EG, n = 24). The EG was intragastrically given 53% alcohol. Submandibular gland tissue samples were taken from each group at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 h to detect the expression of EGF and SS by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: As compared with the NCG, the numbers of EGF and SS positive cells increased during the period of acute alcohol intoxication, which were statistically significant since 1.5 h, especially prominent at 2.0 h (NCG vs EG 2 h: 50.56 ± 4.21 vs 62.99 ± 6.59, F = 8.297, P < 0.05; 43.29 ± 4.88 vs 53.88 ± 7.63, F = 9.161, P < 0.05); the mean grey values decreased gradually, which were statistically significant since 1.5 h, especially prominent at 2.0 h (NCG vs EG 2 h: 169.38 ± 7.88 vs 156.92 ± 6.81, F= 28.137, P < 0.05; 156.97 ± 12.24 vs 148.31 ± 7.41, F = 20.387, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Acute alcohol intoxication alters EGF and SS which are synthetized and secreted by the submandibular glands.

Involvement of trefoil factor family 2 in the enlargement of intestinal tumors in Apc(Min/+) mice

It is assumed that tumor size may be associated with malignant tumor conversion. However, the molecules responsible for determination of tumor size are not well understood. We counted the number of intestinal tumors in 8, 12 and 30-week-old Apc(Min/+) mice and measured tumor sizes, respectively. Genes involved in determining tumor size were examined using microarray analysis. Cultured cells were then, transfected with a mammalian expression vector containing a candidate gene to examine the functional role of the gene. The effect of forced expression of candidate gene on cell growth was evaluated by measuring the doubling time of the cultured cells and the growth of grafted cells in nude mice. Unexpectedly, microarray analysis identified trefoil factor family 2 (Tff2) rather than growth related genes and/or oncogenes as a most variable gene. Overexpressing Tff2 in cultured cells reduced doubling time in vitro and rapidly increased xenograft tumor size in vivo. We found Tff2 as a novel important factor that to be able to enlarge an intestinal tumor size.