Institut für Molekularbiologie und Medizinische Chemie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Universitätsklinikum, Germany.
Cell Tissue Res. 2010 Mar;339(3):639-47. doi: 10.1007/s00441-009-0913-8.
Trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides promote regeneration and repair processes of mucous epithelia. They also probably play a key role in the remarkable regenerative capacity of the urinary tract epithelia. We have localized TFF1, TFF2, and TFF3 expression systematically in surgical specimens from the urinary tract by reverse transcription with the polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. Urine samples from patients suffering from nephrolithiasis have been investigated and compared with those of healthy controls. TFF synthesis is detectable along the entire urinary tract epithelia. TFF3 synthesis is the most pronounced followed by TFF1, whereas TFF2 synthesis is occasionally detectable but only in trace amounts. In contrast, TFF2 is the predominant TFF peptide excreted into the urine, and significantly increased urinary TFF2 levels (together with occasionally raised TFF3 levels) have been observed in patients suffering from nephrolithiasis. Thus, we consider that TFF3 plays a major part in regeneration and restitution processes in urinary tract epithelia. TFF2 and probably also TFF3 are candidate biomarkers for nephrolithiasis and possibly other inflammatory conditions of the urinary tract.
三叶因子家族（TFF）肽促进黏膜上皮的再生和修复过程。它们可能在尿路上皮的显著再生能力中起关键作用。我们通过逆转录聚合酶链反应、Western blot 分析和免疫组织化学，系统地定位了尿路上皮手术标本中的 TFF1、TFF2 和 TFF3 表达。我们研究了患有肾结石的患者的尿液样本，并与健康对照组进行了比较。TFF 合成可沿整个尿路上皮检测到。TFF3 合成最为明显，其次是 TFF1，而 TFF2 合成偶尔可检测到，但仅微量存在。相比之下，TFF2 是排泄到尿液中的主要 TFF 肽，患有肾结石的患者的尿液中 TFF2 水平（以及偶尔升高的 TFF3 水平）显著升高。因此，我们认为 TFF3 在尿路上皮的再生和修复过程中起着重要作用。TFF2 可能还有 TFF3 是肾结石和可能其他尿路炎症的候选生物标志物。
