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Synthesis and localization of trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides in the human urinary tract and TFF2 excretion into the urine

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Abstract

Trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides promote regeneration and repair processes of mucous epithelia. They also probably play a key role in the remarkable regenerative capacity of the urinary tract epithelia. We have localized TFF1, TFF2, and TFF3 expression systematically in surgical specimens from the urinary tract by reverse transcription with the polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. Urine samples from patients suffering from nephrolithiasis have been investigated and compared with those of healthy controls. TFF synthesis is detectable along the entire urinary tract epithelia. TFF3 synthesis is the most pronounced followed by TFF1, whereas TFF2 synthesis is occasionally detectable but only in trace amounts. In contrast, TFF2 is the predominant TFF peptide excreted into the urine, and significantly increased urinary TFF2 levels (together with occasionally raised TFF3 levels) have been observed in patients suffering from nephrolithiasis. Thus, we consider that TFF3 plays a major part in regeneration and restitution processes in urinary tract epithelia. TFF2 and probably also TFF3 are candidate biomarkers for nephrolithiasis and possibly other inflammatory conditions of the urinary tract.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. A. Roessner for continued support, Dr. I. Kouznetsova for helpful discussions, Dr. T. Wex for help with the statistical analysis, E. Voß for valuable secretarial assistance, and Dr. J. Lindquist for critically reading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Molekularbiologie und Medizinische Chemie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Universitätsklinikum, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Margarita Rinnert, Margitta Hinz & Werner Hoffmann

  2. Institut für Pathologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Peter Buhtz

  3. Urologische Universitätsklinik, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Frank Reiher

  4. Urological Practice, 39104, Magdeburg, Germany

    Wolfgang Lessel

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  1. Margarita Rinnert
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  2. Margitta Hinz
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  3. Peter Buhtz
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  4. Frank Reiher
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  5. Wolfgang Lessel
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  6. Werner Hoffmann
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Correspondence to Werner Hoffmann.

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Patents are pending (DE 10 2008 022 609.2 and PCT/DE2009/000593) to the Medical Faculty of the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg covering the use of TFF peptides as diagnostic markers for nephrolithiasis and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract.

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Rinnert, M., Hinz, M., Buhtz, P. et al. Synthesis and localization of trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides in the human urinary tract and TFF2 excretion into the urine. Cell Tissue Res 339, 639–647 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-009-0913-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-009-0913-8

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