Trefoil Factor Family: Unresolved Questions and Clinical Perspectives

Nayara Braga Emidio; Werner Hoffmann; Stuart M Brierley; Markus Muttenthaler

doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2019.01.004

Trefoil Factor Family: Unresolved Questions and Clinical Perspectives

Trends Biochem Sci. 2019 May;44(5):387-390. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.01.004. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Authors

Nayara Braga Emidio¹, Werner Hoffmann², Stuart M Brierley³, Markus Muttenthaler⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Authors contributed equally.
² Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Authors contributed equally.
³ Visceral Pain Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia; Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology and Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.
⁴ Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Institute of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: markus.muttenthaler@univie.ac.at.

Abstract

The trefoil factor family of peptides (TFF1, TFF2, TFF3) with their lectin activities play important roles in mucosal protection and repair. However, major gaps in understanding their molecular function have hampered therapeutic development for gastrointestinal disorders. We provide here a critical overview of the status quo.

Keywords: cell migration; gastrointestinal wound healing; lectin; mucins; mucosal protection; mucositis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Trefoil Factors / metabolism*

Substances

Trefoil Factors

Grants and funding

714366/ERC_/European Research Council/International