M. Tomita et al., MOLECULAR-CLONING OF MOUSE INTESTINAL TREFOIL FACTOR AND ITS EXPRESSION DURING GOBLET CELL CHANGES, Biochemical journal, 311, 1995, pp. 293-297
A cDNA encoding mouse intestinal trefoil factor (mITF) was successfull
y cloned and sequenced from the small intestine of C57BL/6 mouse by us
ing the combination of reverse transcription-PCR and rapid amplificati
on of cDNA ends methods. The gene was, similar to rat and human ITFs,
mainly expressed in the small and large intestine, The mITF expression
was up-regulated during the recovery phase after depletion of goblet
cells in acetic acid-induced colitis. On the other hand, the expressio
n in the jejunum was not altered, while goblet cell hyperplasia was in
duced by Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection. These results suggest
that the mITF expression did not simply correlate with the number of
goblet cells. The mITF may play an important role in the maintenance a
nd repair of mucosal function of the rectum. Additionally, the mITF in
the jejunum may play a role in alteration of the physicochemical natu
re of goblet cell mucins, thereby affecting the establishment of intes
tinal helminths.