Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0038358 (gastric ulcer)
 5,179 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Bovine alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA), a major milk protein, exerts strong gastroprotective activity against rat experimental gastric ulcers induced by ethanol or stress. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying this activity, the influence of alpha-LA on gastric mucus metabolism was investigated in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro study, RGM1 cells (a rat gastric epithelial cell line) were selected for observation of the direct activity of alpha-LA on gastric mucosal cells and cultured in the presence of either alpha-LA or ovalbumin (OVA), a reference protein showing no gastroprotective activity. Amounts of synthesized and secreted mucin, a major component of mucus, were determined using [3H]glucosamine as a tracer, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in the culture medium were determined by RIA. For the in vivo study, the thickness of the mucus gel layer, a protective barrier for gastric mucosa, was evaluated histochemically in rat gastric mucosa. alpha-Lactalbumin (3 mg/mL) significantly stimulated mucin synthesis and secretion in RGM1 cells and also increased PGE2 levels in the culture medium. In contrast, OVA showed no enhancing effects under identical conditions. Neither indomethacin, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, nor AH23848, a prostaglandin EP4 receptor antagonist, affected alpha-LA-induced enhancement of mucin synthesis and secretion. In vivo, oral administration of alpha-LA (300 mg/kg x 3 times/d x 7 d) increased the thickness of the mucus gel layer in rats. These results indicate that alpha-LA fortifies the mucus gel layer by stimulating mucin production and secretion in gastric mucus-producing cells, and that this enhancing effect is independent of endogenous PGE2. Comparison of the efficacy of alpha-LA with OVA suggests that the activities observed in RGM1 cells are closely related to the gastroprotective effects in rat gastric ulcer models. In conclusion, alpha-LA stimulates mucus metabolism, and this action may be responsible for its gastroprotective activity.
 ...
PMID:Bovine alpha-lactalbumin stimulates mucus metabolism in gastric mucosa. 1723 30

We examined the involvement of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 as well as COX-2 in the healing of gastric ulcers and investigated which prostaglandin (PG) EP receptor subtype is responsible for the healing-promoting action of PGE2. Male SD rats and C57BL/6 mice, including wild-type, COX-1(-/-), and COX-2(-/-), were used. Gastric ulcers were produced by thermocauterization under ether anesthesia. Gastric ulcer healing was significantly delayed in both rats and mice by indomethacin and rofecoxib but not SC-560 given for 14 days after ulceration. The impaired healing was also observed in COX-2(-/-) but not COX-1(-/-) mice. Mucosal PGE2 content increased after ulceration, and this response was significantly suppressed by indomethacin and rofecoxib but not SC-560. The delayed healing in mice caused by indomethacin was significantly reversed by the coadministration of 11-deoxy-PGE1 (EP3/EP4 agonist) but not other prostanoids, including the EP1, EP2, and EP3 agonists. By contrast, CJ-42794 (selective EP(4) antagonist) significantly delayed the ulcer healing in rats and mice. VEGF expression and angiogenesis were both upregulated in the ulcerated mucosa, and these responses were suppressed by indomethacin, rofocoxib, and CJ-42794. The expression of VEGF in primary rat gastric fibroblasts was increased by PGE2 or AE1-329 (EP4 agonist), and these responses were both attenuated by coadministration of CJ-42794. These results confirmed the importance of COX-2/PGE2 in the healing mechanism of gastric ulcers and further suggested that the healing-promoting action of PGE2 is mediated by the activation of EP4 receptors and is associated with VEGF expression.
 ...
PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2 accelerates the healing of gastric ulcers via EP4 receptors. 1767 47

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a fundamental regulator of angiogenesis, plays an important role in gastric ulcer healing. In addition, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), derived from cyclooxygenase-2, stimulates VEGF release in gastric fibroblasts. In the present study, we examined which EP receptor subtype is involved in the expression of VEGF in primary rat gastric fibroblasts. PGE2 stimulated VEGF protein expression in the fibroblasts in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The up-regulation by PGE2 of VEGF expression was completely inhibited by a subtype selective EP4 receptor antagonist (AE3-208). Furthermore, the selective EP4 receptor agonist, AE1-329, promoted VEGF expression in the fibroblasts, and this effect was also totally antagonized by AE3-208. These results suggest that PGE2 stimulates VEGF expression in gastric fibroblasts through the activation of EP4 receptors, and this effect may be involved in the healing promoting action of PGE2 on gastric ulcers.
 ...
PMID:Prostaglandin E2 stimulates VEGF expression in primary rat gastric fibroblasts through EP4 receptors. 1794 54