Osamu Furukawa (1), Hiroshi Matsui (2), Noriko Suzuki (1) and Susumu
Okabe (1)
(1) Department of Applied Pharmacology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University,
Misasagi, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan
(2) Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tsukuba
University, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
Abstract: We examined the effects of transforming growth factor
alpha (TGF-alpha) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on acid-induced damage
in a rat gastric epithelial cell line. Pretreatment of cells for 30 min
with TGF-alpha, but not HGF, significantly prevented the acid-induced cell
damage in a concentration-dependent manner. Genistein significantly reduced
the protective effect of TGF-alpha. DNA synthesis in RGM1 cells was increased
when the cells were incubated with TGF-alpha and HGF for 24 hr. We conclude
that the protective effect of TGF-alpha against acid-induced damage seems
to be caused by the activation of Na+/H+ exchangers
and not by enhanced DNA synthesis.
Keywords: Transforming growth factor alpha, Cell protection, Na+/H+
exchanger