Role of the parietal cell in gastric damage induced by aspirin and related drugs: implications for safer therapy.

The proton-secreting parietal cell is shown, from recent evidence, to be the principal focus for the actions of aspirin (and related drugs) in damaging the gastric mucosa. It is suggested that the selective damage to the parietal cells is due to the ph gradient favouring a high rate of aspirin uptake and subsequent entrapment of drug anions inside these cells. This concept may serve as a useful basis for developing procedures to minimize the gastric damage by aspirin and related acidic drugs.