Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Volume 24, Issue 8, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087059
Keywords
trefoil factor; TFF2; lectin; stomach; pancreas; mucin; MUC6; pancreatic cancer; branching morphogenesis; pancreatic organogenesis
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TFF2 is a protein that is co-secreted with MUC6 in the gastric mucous neck cells, antral gland cells, and duodenal Brunner glands. It forms a high-molecular-mass complex with MUC6, stabilizing the mucus barrier. In the pancreas, TFF2 exists as a low-molecular-mass monomer. Its absence in the pancreas is due to a lack of MUC6. Tff2 plays a protective role in the pancreatic ductal epithelium.
The lectin TFF2 belongs to the trefoil factor family (TFF). This polypeptide is typically co-secreted with the mucin MUC6 from gastric mucous neck cells, antral gland cells, and duodenal Brunner glands. Here, TFF2 fulfills a protective function by forming a high-molecular-mass complex with the MUC6, physically stabilizing the mucus barrier. In pigs and mice, and slightly in humans, TFF2 is also synthesized in the pancreas. Here, we investigated the murine stomach, pancreas, and duodenum by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and proteomics and identified different forms of Tff2. In both the stomach and duodenum, the predominant form is a high-molecular-mass complex with Muc6, whereas, in the pancreas, only low-molecular-mass monomeric Tff2 was detectable. We also investigated the expression of Tff2 and other selected genes in the stomach, pancreas, and the proximal, medial, and distal duodenum (RT-PCR analysis). The absence of the Tff2/Muc6 complex in the pancreas is due to a lack of Muc6. Based on its known motogenic, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects, we propose a protective receptor-mediated function of monomeric Tff2 for the pancreatic ductal epithelium. This view is supported by a report that a loss of Tff2 promotes the formation of pancreatic intraductal mucinous neoplasms.
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