PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review recent developments in the field of gastroduodenal mucosal defense. RECENT FINDINGS: Research in the field of gastroduodenal mucosal defense is shifting from animal models of mucosal injury towards the elucidation of molecular mechanisms that protect the mucosa at the cellular level. Accordingly, the recent literature is focused on endogenous antioxidants such as mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD), and heme oxygenase-1, mucosal receptors such as the Toll-like receptors and protease-activated receptors, endogenous proteins with protective effects such as the matrix metalloproteinases, heat-inducible factors and trefoil factors, protective functions of submucosal mononuclear cells, junctional proteins affecting mucosal permeability, and hormone-mediated protective mechanisms mediated by estrogens, vasoactive peptides, and other hormones. SUMMARY: These new published findings contribute to our overall understanding of gastroduodenal defense and suggest innovative avenues of future research and possible novel therapeutic targets.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review recent developments in the field of gastroduodenal mucosal defense. RECENT FINDINGS: Research in the field of gastroduodenal mucosal defense is shifting from animal models of mucosal injury towards the elucidation of molecular mechanisms that protect the mucosa at the cellular level. Accordingly, the recent literature is focused on endogenous antioxidants such as mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD), and heme oxygenase-1, mucosal receptors such as the Toll-like receptors and protease-activated receptors, endogenous proteins with protective effects such as the matrix metalloproteinases, heat-inducible factors and trefoil factors, protective functions of submucosal mononuclear cells, junctional proteins affecting mucosal permeability, and hormone-mediated protective mechanisms mediated by estrogens, vasoactive peptides, and other hormones. SUMMARY: These new published findings contribute to our overall understanding of gastroduodenal defense and suggest innovative avenues of future research and possible novel therapeutic targets.