SUCRALFATE EFFECTS ON MUCUS SYNTHESIS AND SECRETION BY HUMAN GASTRIC EPITHELIUM IN-VITRO

Sucralfate has complex interactions with both the luminal and mucosal environments of the stomach. To study potential mechanisms of action, the effects of sucralfate on mucus synthesis and secretion were invest igated by utilizing an in vitro system comprised of a human gastric ca rcinoma cell line, AGS. In this study, AGS cell synthesis and secretio n of the major components of mucus, lipid and glycoproteins, were esti mated using metabolic labeling methods. The results showed that sucral fate preferentially stimulated the synthesis and secretion of phosphat idylcholine and triglyceride, but did not alter the synthesis and secr etion of glycoprotein. In addition, indomethacin blocked the sucralfat e-induced lipid synthesis and secretion, possibly implicating prostagl andins as mediators of some of the drug's cytoprotective actions. In p art, this work supports the proposed role of sucralfate's stimulatory effects on synthesis and secretion of lipids as contributing to enhanc ement of the mucosal barrier in ulcer treatment. Additionally, this st udy demonstrated that the AGS cell line is useful in vitro for studyin g the gastric epithelial cell mucus synthesis and secretion.