Received March 6, 2007
Revised March 21, 2007
Accepted after revision April 2, 2007
GI & Epithelial Physiology [230]
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Attack and Defence in the Gastric Epithelium - A
Delicate Balance
Rod Dimaline 1*
Andrea Varro 1
1 University of Liverpool
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: r.dimaline{at}liv.ac.uk.
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Abstract |
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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 over-express or lack the
gastrin gene, suggest for this hormone, a number of
previously unrecognized roles 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.
Key Words:
Epithelia, Gastrin, Stomach
