Minireview Rolling in the clover: trefoil factor family (TFF)-domain peptides, cell migration and cancer

Abstract Trefoil factor family (TFF)-domain peptides 1-3 are mucin-associated molecules, largely found in epithelia of gastro-intestinal tissues. Structurally similar, resistant to enzymatic degradation, they are up-regulated around areas of epithelial damage such as ulcers. Transgenic expression or exogenous peptide ameliorates or prevents gastric mucosal damage due to indomethacin and some are rapidly up-regulated after cryogenic burns. A role in promoting cell migration is strongly suggested. Knockout mice lacking TFF1 or TFF3 show significant pathology, with the former developing gastric tumours. A recent Conference Philippe Laudat agreed upon a new nomenclature for these peptides. © 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Key words: Trefoil factor family; TFF-domain peptide; Cancer; Cell migration; Ulcer; Invasion 1. Introduction The finding [1] in 1982 of a peptide abundant in porcine pancreatic extracts during insulin preparation, and the con-temporaneous discovery of a cDNA clone during a search for estrogen-induced mRNAs in a breast cancer cell line [2], has developed into the burgeoning field of trefoil/P-domain pep-tide research, the subject of an excellent Philippe Laudat Conference