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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 92/4/591    most recent expphysiol.2006.036483v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dimaline, R. Articles by Varro, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dimaline, R. Articles by Varro, A. Related Collections GI & Epithelial

¹ Physiological Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK

Abstract

The gastric epithelium is a complex structure formed into tubular branched gastric glands. The glands contain a wide variety of cell types concerned with the secretion of hydrochloric acid, proteases, mucus and a range of signalling molecules. All cell types originate from stem cells in the neck region of the gland, before migrating and differentiating to assume their characteristic positions and functions. Endocrine and local paracrine mediators are of crucial importance for maintaining structural and functional integrity of the epithelium, in the face of a hostile luminal environment. The first such mediator to be recognized, the hormone gastrin, was identified over a century ago and is now established as the major physiological stimulant of gastric acid secretion. Recent studies, including those using mice that overexpress or lack the gastrin gene, suggest a number of previously unrecognized roles for this hormone in the regulation of cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation. This review focuses on the identification of hitherto unsuspected gastrin-regulated genes and discusses the paracrine cascades that contribute to the maintenance of gastric epithelial architecture and secretory function. Helicobacter infection is also considered in cases where it shares targets and signalling mechanisms with gastrin.

(Received 6 March 2007; accepted after revision 2 April 2007; first published online 5 April 2007)
Corresponding author R. Dimaline: Physiological Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. Email: r.dimaline{at}liv.ac.uk

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				H. L. Ashurst, A. Varro, and R. Dimaline Regulation of mammalian gastrin/CCK receptor (CCK2R) expression in vitro and in vivo Exp Physiol, February 1, 2008; 93(2): 223 - 236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]