三叶肽对胃黏膜适应性细胞保护的调节作用

目的探讨三叶肽(ITF)对胃黏膜适应性细胞保护的调节作用。方法采用重复水浸束缚应激(WRS)法制作模型，动态监测模型动物的胃黏膜血流量(GMBF)，观察黏膜损伤指数(UI)及病理组织学变化；采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT—PCR)和蛋白质免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测乳癌相关肽(PS2)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)、ITF、转化生长因子-α(TGF—α)及环氧合酶-2(COX-2)的表达。结果单次WRS后造成胃黏膜广泛损伤；重复应激后胃黏膜产生适应性，GMBF上升，损伤逐渐减轻；经4次应激后，UI降低到单次应激的22．0％，并且胃腺区细胞增殖。单次应激后，PS2基因表达减弱，而iNOS、ITF、TGF—α及COX-2基因表达均增强；重复应激后，PS2、ITF、TGF—α表达逐渐增强，而iNOS及COX-2基因表达逐渐减弱；正常时iNOS、ITF及COX-2几乎无表达，PS2、ITF、TGF—α主要在胃腺颈部表达；应激后PS2、ITF、TGF—α不但在胃腺颈部黏膜增殖带表达增强。在胃腺基底部亦有表达，iNOS及COX-2在溃疡及其边缘存在。结论胃黏膜适应性细胞保护伴有细胞增殖，PS2、ITF、TGF—α表达逐渐增强，iNOS及COX-2表达逐渐减弱，表明三叶肽在这一现象中具有重要的调节作用。     

肠三叶因子和环氧合酶2及诱导型一氧化氮合酶表达与胃黏膜适应性细胞保护的关系

目的研究肠三叶因子(ITF)、环氧合酶2(COX-2)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)在水浸束缚应激(WRS)大鼠胃黏膜基因表达变化,探讨其在应激胃黏膜适应性细胞保护中的相互关系及作用。方法采用重复WRS制作模型,Ⅲ型激光多谱勒血流仪(LDF-3)动态监测胃黏膜血流量(GMBF),大体及光镜下观察黏膜损伤程度(UI)及组织学变化,逆转录一多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)和Western blot检测ITF、COX-2及iNOS表达变化。结果单次应激造成胃黏膜广泛损伤,重复应激后胃黏膜产生适应性,胃黏膜血流量上升,损伤逐渐减轻;4次应激后,损伤指数降低为单次应激时的21．99％,并且胃腺区细胞增殖。单次应激后,ITF、COX-2及iNOS均增强;重复应激后,ITF表达继续逐渐增强,而COX-2及iNOS表达则逐渐减弱;正常时,ITF、COX-2及iNOS几乎无表达;应激后,ITF不但在胃腺颈部黏膜增殖带表达增强,而且在胃腺基底部亦有表达,COX-2及iNOS在溃疡及其边缘存在。结论胃黏膜适应性细胞保护伴有细胞增殖,ITF表达逐渐增强,COX-2及iNOS表达逐渐减弱;表明三者在这一现象中具有重要的调节作用。     

解痉多肽在应激胃黏膜适应性保护中的作用

目的 研究解痉多肽(spasmolytic polypeptide,SP)在水浸束缚应激(WRS)大鼠胃黏膜的基因表达变化,探讨其在应激胃黏膜适应性保护中的作用.方法 采用单次和重复水浸束缚应激制作模型,动态监测胃黏膜血流量(GMBF),大体及光镜下观察黏膜损伤程度(UI)及组织学变化,逆转录-多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测研究SP基因表达变化,免疫组化染色进一步证实SP表达.结果 ①单次应激造成胃黏膜广泛损伤,但损伤指数在3、5、7 d逐渐减小,至7 d降为208%,GMBF逐渐恢复,至7 d上升为正常94.5%,SP基因表达逐渐增强(0.50±0.12 vs 0.71±010,P＜0.01),免疫组化染色计分为0.94±0.10 vs 1.50±0.13 (P＜0.01);②重复应激后胃黏膜产生适应性,胃黏膜血流量上升,损伤逐渐减轻,4次应激后,损伤指数降低为单次应激的22%,胃黏膜血流量上升为正常94.2%,并且胃腺区细胞增殖,SP基因表达增强(0.57±0.01 vs 0.97±003,P＜0.01),免疫组织化学染色计分为1.25±0.11 vs 2.56±0.16(P＜0.01).结论 SP可能参与了应激胃黏膜适应性细胞保护.     

应激状态下大鼠胃黏膜适应性细胞保护作用的研究

目的：探讨心理、一氧化氮合酶（NOS）及胃黏膜血流量（GMBF）与应激状态下大鼠胃黏膜适应性细胞保护相互作用及意义。方法：采用高压恒流脉冲刺激器复制胃黏膜损伤模型，将72只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、规则光组及不规则光组3组，分光光度法检测NOS活性，动态检测GMBF及Nils Lambecht法判定胃黏膜损伤指数（Ⅱ）。结果：在两个应激组中，NOS均升高，GMBF均下降后回升，而黏膜损伤均渐趋减轻。在规则组中，Ⅱ与GMBF呈显著负相关，在不规则组中，Ⅱ与NOS和GMBF均呈显著负相关，而NOS与GMBF呈显著正相关。结论：NOS、GMBF及心理共同参与了胃黏膜适应性细胞保护反应。     

幽门螺杆菌相关胃炎和胃癌组织中COX和iNOS的表达及意义

胃癌是我国最常见的恶性肿瘤之一，幽门螺杆菌（Hp）感染是慢性胃炎的主要致病因子和胃癌的重要始动因素，Hp感染可导致胃黏膜环氧合酶-2（COX-2），诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）表达升高，且与Hp感染密度，炎症程度密切相关，而COX-2和iNOS的表达与胃癌发生密切相关。本比较在Hp阳性胃炎及胃癌与Hp阴性慢性胃炎中COX和iNOS表达情况，探讨Hp的致癌机制。     

幽门螺杆菌根除对不同胃黏膜病变环氧合酶-2表达的影响

目的探讨Hpylori根除对慢性浅表性胃炎和萎缩肠化胃黏膜上皮细胞COX-2表达的影响。方法采用快速尿素酶试验和组织学碱性品红染色法检测胃黏膜Hpylori感染状况;应用免疫组织化学法检测胃黏膜上皮细胞COX-2的表达。结果17例Hpylori阳性慢性浅表性胃炎中11例见不同程度胃黏膜上皮细胞COX-2阳性表达,Hpylori根除后6例COX-2表达消失,2例减弱,2例无改变,1例增强,前后对照差异有显著性(P<0.05)。同时Hpylori根除后12例胃黏膜慢性炎症见不同程度减轻,与COX-2表达变化有较好相关性(P<0.05)。10例Hpylori感染萎缩性胃炎伴肠化生者9例COX-2表达阳性,Hpylori根除后1、2a复查COX-2表达减弱5例,消失2例,1例无变化,1例增强,前后对照差异有显著性(P<0.05),但胃黏膜组织学对照无明显改善。结论根除Hpylori可消除慢性浅表性胃炎胃黏膜上皮细胞COX-2表达,且与慢性炎症程度消退相关。而根除Hpylori虽可减弱萎缩肠化胃黏膜上皮细胞COX-2表达,但不能改善胃黏膜萎缩和肠化状态。     

低氧诱导因子1α在大鼠应激性溃疡中的表达及其意义

目的:探讨低氧诱导因子1α(HIF-1α)在大鼠应激性溃疡发生发展中的表达及意义。方法:应用浸水-束缚应激(WRS)方法建立大鼠应激性溃疡模型。依据不同浸水时间,将42只雄性SD大鼠随机(随机数字法)分为0h(正常对照)组、2h(W2)组、4h(W4)组、6h(W6)组、8h(W8)组、12h(W12)组、16h(W16)组,每组各6例,通过测定各组大鼠应激后胃液pH值、胃黏膜血流量(GMBF)、胃黏膜损伤指数(Guth评分),观察胃黏膜肉眼大体观,Western blot检测各组大鼠胃黏膜组织中HIF-1α、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的表达水平,探究HIF-1α在大鼠应激性溃疡发生发展中的作用。结果:与对照组比较,水浸应激后胃液pH值、GMBF明显降低(P<0.01)、Guth评分逐渐增加(P<0.01),水浸应激8h均达到峰值,之后随着浸水时间的延长,胃液pH值、GMBF逐渐升高,Guth评分逐渐下降。与对照组比较,随着浸水时间延长,HIF-1α、VEGF表达增加(P<0.05),浸水8h时间点达到高峰(P<0.05)。与W8组比较,W12、W16组HIF-1α、VEGF表达分别有所下降(P<0.05);与W6组比较,W12、W16组HIF-1α、VEGF表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:应激性溃疡发生发展中,胃黏膜缺血缺氧损伤越严重,HIF-1α、VEGF表达量增加,以促进黏膜新生血管生成,促使机体适应并改善缺氧环境。     

不同病因导致的应激性胃黏膜损伤中环氧化酶-2的改变

目的探讨不同病因导致的应激性胃黏膜损伤时胃黏膜环氧化酶（cyclooxygenase,COX）-2表达强度的变化及二者的关系。方法通过建立急性甲胺磷中毒及急性心肌梗死动物模型,采用胃黏膜溃疡指数评定是否发生胃黏膜损伤,采用免疫组化方法测定胃黏膜COX-2的表达强度变化。结果①成功建立大鼠急性甲胺磷中毒及急性心肌梗死动物模型;②在急性甲胺磷中毒及急性心肌梗死这两种应激状态下胃黏膜发生了损伤;③不同病因所致应激性胃黏膜损伤时胃黏膜COX-2表达增加。结论临床危重疾病可产生应激状态胃黏膜损伤,胃黏膜溃疡指数增加。不同病因所致的应激性胃黏膜损伤时胃黏膜COX-2表达增加,可能为一种保护机制。     

多潘立酮对大鼠胃黏膜损伤的疗效观察

目的：探讨多潘立酮对胃黏膜损伤的疗效。方法：大鼠用60％乙醇8g／kg灌胃，3次／d，5d后分为治疗组和对照组。前者用多潘立酮1mg／kg灌胃，3次／d，光镜下测量胃黏膜损伤指数及缺损深度，组织学检查炎性反应程度，免疫组化法测量COX蛋白表达。结果：治疗组鼠胃黏膜损伤程度、组织学改变及COX-2蛋白表达低于对照组（P〈0．05），COX-1蛋白表达高于对照组（P〈0．01）。结论：多潘立酮对大鼠胃黏膜损伤具有修复作用。     

COX-2与肿瘤关系的研究进展

环氧合酶(cyclooxygerlase，COX)又称前列腺素过氧化物合成酶，是前列腺素(PG)合成过程中一个重要的限速酶，可以将花生四烯酸代谢成各种前列腺素产物，从而在机体的生理和病理过程中发挥作用。目前研究证实，细胞中至少有两种COX的编码基因，即COX-1和COX-2。COX-1在维持人体正常生理功能中起重要作用，如胃肠道细胞保护、调节肾脏血流等。而COX-2在人类许多良性癌前病变和恶性肿瘤中均有高表达，     

Therapeutic potential of 1-methylnicotinamide against acute gastric lesions induced by stress: role of endogenous prostacyclin and sensory nerves

1-Methylnicotinamide (MNA) is one of the major derivatives of nicotinamide, which was recently shown to exhibit antithrombotic and antiinflammatory actions. However, it is not yet known whether MNA affects gastric mucosal defense. The effects of exogenous MNA were studied on gastric secretion and gastric lesions induced in rats by 3.5 h of water immersion and water restraint stress (WRS) or in rats administered 75% ethanol. MNA [6.25-100 mg/kg intragastrically (i.g.)] led to a dose-dependent rise in the plasma MNA level, inhibited gastric acid secretion, and attenuated these gastric lesions induced by WRS or ethanol. The gastroprotective effect of MNA was accompanied by an increase in the gastric mucosal blood flow and plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels, the preservation of prostacyclin (PGI(2)) generation (measured as 6-keto-PGF1alpha), and an overexpression of mRNAs for cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and CGRP in the gastric mucosa. R-3-(4-Fluoro-phenyl)-2-[5-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-benzofuran-2-ylmethoxycarbonylamino]-propionic acid (RO 324479), which is the selective antagonist of IP/PGI(2) receptors, reversed the effects of MNA on gastric lesions and GBF. MNA-induced gastroprotection was attenuated by suppression of COX-1 [5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole; SC-560] and COX-2 [4-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-3-phenyl-5H-furan-2-one; rofecoxib] activity, capsaicin denervation, and by the pretreatment with CGRP(8-37) or capsazepine. Addition of exogenous PGI(2) or CGRP restored the MNA-induced gastroprotection in rats treated with COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors or in those with capsaicin denervation. WRS enhanced MDA content while decreasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the gastric mucosa, but pretreatment with MNA reversed these changes. MNA exerts potent gastroprotection against WRS damage via mechanisms involving cooperative action of PGI(2) and CGRP in preservation of microvascular flow, antioxidizing enzyme SOD activity, and reduction in lipid peroxidation.     

Ulcerogenic influence of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in the rat stomach with adjuvant-induced arthritis

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have been developed as new gastric sparing anti-inflammatory drugs. We previously reported that the ulcerogenic response to conventional nonselective COX inhibitors, such as indomethacin and aspirin, was markedly increased in arthritic rats. The ulcerogenic effect of selective COX-2 inhibitors in arthritic animals, however, remains unknown. The present study was designed to examine the influence of selective COX-2 inhibitors, such as rofecoxib and celecoxib, on gastric mucosal integrity in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. Arthritis was induced in male dark Agouti rats by injection of Freund's complete adjuvant into the right hind paw. Two weeks after the injection, the animals were fasted for 18 h, various COX inhibitors were administered orally, and the mucosa was examined for lesions 4 h later. Oral administration of indomethacin caused hemorrhagic gastric lesions in both normal and arthritic rats, although the severity of lesions was significantly greater in the latter group. In contrast, neither rofecoxib nor celecoxib caused any gastric damage in normal rats, but both drugs provoked hemorrhagic gastric lesions in arthritic rats. The expression of COX-2 mRNA and immuno-positive cells was observed in the gastric mucosa of arthritic but not normal rats. The gastric mucosal prostaglandin (PG) E(2) content was significantly elevated in arthritic rats in a rofecoxib-sensitive manner. In conclusion, COX-2 inhibitors produce gastric lesions in arthritic rats, similar to the nonselective COX-inhibitors. COX-2 is up-regulated in the stomach of arthritic rats, and PGs produced by COX-2 play a role in maintaining the integrity of the gastric mucosa.     

胃泌素、环氧合酶2在不同胃黏膜病变中的表达及意义

目的 研究不同胃黏膜病变组织中胃泌素、环氧合酶2(COX-2)和Ki-67的表达,探讨胃泌素和COX-2在胃黏膜癌变过程中的作用及其相互关系.方法 96例不同胃黏膜病变组织来自胃镜活检标本.采用免疫组化染色EnVision法检测胃泌素、COX-2和Ki-67表达.结果 胃泌素在慢性浅表性胃炎(CSG)、慢性萎缩性胃炎(CAG)、肠上皮化生(IM)、异型增生(Dy)和胃癌(GC)中表达的阳性率分别为58.8%、30.0%、57.9%、68.2%和77.8%,CAG组与GC组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).COX-2在CSG、CAG、IM、Dy和GC中表达的阳性率分别为41.2%、45.0%、68.4%、72.7%和88.9%;在GC中的表达显著高于CSG(P<0.05).从CSG→GC,Ki-67增殖指数(PI)呈逐渐递增趋势;从CAD→GC,胃泌素和COX-2的表达与PI呈正相关(P<0.05).在胃癌前期病变中,胃泌素与COX-2表达有显著相关性(γ=0.4108,P<0.01),二者共同表达时,PI显著升高.结论 CAG中胃泌素王低表达,从CAG→GC,胃泌素表达逐渐升高.在胃黏膜癌变过程中,COX-2表达呈逐渐递增趋势.在胃癌前病变阶段,胃泌素和COX-2协同促进细胞增殖,胃泌素可能参与上调COX-2的表达.     

Lansoprazole induces mucosal protection through gastrin receptor-dependent up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in rats

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are antiulcer agents that have both gastric antisecretory and mucosal protective actions. The mechanisms of PPI-induced gastric mucosal protection are not known. The present study was designed to examine the mechanism for lansoprazole-induced gastric mucosal protection in rats. Rats were given 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/day lansoprazole alone or both lansoprazole (50 mg/kg/day) and a specific gastrin receptor antagonist 3R-1-(2,2-diethoxyethyl)-((4-methylphenyl)amino-carbonyl methyl)-3-((4-methylphenyl)ureidoindoline-2- one) (AG-041R) (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. Serum gastrin concentrations were measured. The expression of cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) in the gastric mucosa was analyzed using Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Another series of rats was used to examine the 1) levels of prostaglandin (PG) E2 in gastric mucosa, 2) influences of the drugs on gastric damage caused by absolute ethanol, and 3) effects of a COX-2-specific inhibitor on PGE2 in the gastric mucosa and the mucosal protection afforded by lansoprazole. Lansoprazole dose dependently increased the serum gastrin concentration and enhanced the mucosal expression of COX-2 but not that of COX-1. Lansoprazole increased gastric mucosal PGE2 and reduced gastric damage caused by ethanol. Concomitant administration of AG-041R abolished the lansoprazole-induced COX-2 expression, and increased mucosal PGE2 and mucosal protection. A specific COX-2 inhibitor blocked the lansoprazole-induced increase in mucosal PGE2 and mucosal protection. Activation of gastrin receptors by endogenous gastrin has a pivotal role in the effects of lansoprazole on COX-2 up-regulation and mucosal protection in the rat stomach.     

Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in rat gastric mucosa by rebamipide, a mucoprotective agent

Recent studies indicate an expression of mitogen-inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in gastric mucosa. Rebamipide, a mucoprotective agent enhances prostaglandin (PG) synthesis. The present study was designed to clarify the mechanism for rebamipide-induced mucosal protection. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 5, 15, or 50 mg/kg/day rebamipide for 14 days. The expression of constitutive cyclooxygenase (COX-1) and COX-2 in gastric mucosa was determined using Western blot analysis. Another series of rats was used to examine 1) the levels of PGE(2) in stomach with and without pretreatment with a COX-2 inhibitor; 2) the protective action of rebamipide against gastric damage caused by 0.6 N HCl; and 3) the effects of a COX-2 inhibitor on rebamipide-induced gastric mucosal protection. COX-2 expression was enhanced, whereas COX-1 expression did not change significantly in the gastric mucosa of rats after treatment with rebamipide. The gastric mucosal PGE(2) was higher in the rebamipide groups than in the vehicle-treated group. Rebamipide also suppressed gastric damage induced by HCl in a dose-dependent manner. A COX-2 inhibitor blocked the rebamipide-induced increase in mucosal PGE(2), and mucosal protection induced by rebamipide. The results indicate that rebamipide induces COX-2 expression, increases PGE(2) levels, and enhances gastric mucosal defense in a COX-2-dependent manner. Thus, COX-2 has an important role in the effects of rebamipide on gastric mucosal protection.     

Roles of COX inhibition in pathogenesis of NSAID-induced small intestinal damage

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin decrease mucosal PGE₂ content by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and produce damage in the small intestine. The development of intestinal lesions induced by indomethacin was accompanied by increases in intestinal motility, enterobacterial invasion, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, together with the up-regulation of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA expression. Neither SC-560, a selective COX-1 inhibitor, nor rofecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, alone caused intestinal damage, but their combined administration provoked lesions in the small intestine. SC-560, but not rofecoxib, caused intestinal hypermotility, bacterial invasion and the expression of COX-2 as well as iNOS mRNA, yet the iNOS and MPO activity was increased only when rofecoxib was administered together with SC-560. Although SC-560 inhibited PG production, the level of PGE₂ recovered in a rofecoxib-dependent manner. The intestinal hypermotility in response to indomethacin was prevented by both 16,16-dimethyl PGE₂ and atropine but not by ampicillin, yet all these agents inhibited not only the bacterial invasion but also the expression of COX-2 as well as the iNOS activity in the intestinal mucosa following indomethacin treatment, thereby preventing the intestinal damage. These results suggest that inhibition of COX-1, despite causing intestinal hypermotility, bacterial invasion and iNOS expression, up-regulates the expression of COX-2, and the PGE₂ derived from COX-2 counteracts the deleterious events caused by COX-1 inhibition and maintains mucosal integrity. These sequences of events explain why intestinal damage occurs when both COX-1 and COX-2 are inhibited.     

Modulation of stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions by exogenous L-arginine

L-arginine, a nitric oxide (NO) precursor, can exert both ameriolative and deteriorative effects on gastric mucosal lesions. This study was designed to determine whether exogenous L-arginine modulates stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions through NO production by either constitutive NO synthase (cNOS) or inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in gastric mucosal tissues. In rats subjected to water immersion restraint stress over a 6-hour period, the concentration of gastric mucosal nitrite/nitrate, breakdown products of NO, increased with the development of gastric mucosal lesions and a decrease in cNOS activity and a drastic increase in iNOS activity in the gastric mucosal tissue. Preadministration of L-arginine (150 to 600 mg/kg intraperitoneally) attenuated the lesion development with prevention of increases in gastric mucosal nitrite/nitrate concentration and iNOS activity. In contrast, postadministration of L-arginine (150 to 600 mg/kg intraperitoneally) enhanced the lesion development with further increase in gastric mucosal nitrite/nitrate concentration. This deteriorative action of postadministration of L-arginine (300 mg/kg intraperitoneally) was prevented by pretreatment with aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg subcutaneously), a selective iNOS inhibitor, with inhibition of increases in gastric mucosal iNOS activity and nitrite/nitrate concentration. These results indicate that preadministered L-arginine protects against water immersion restraint stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions, possibly through restricted NO production by cNOS in gastric mucosal tissues, whereas postadministered L-arginine aggravates the stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions, possibly through excessive NO production by iNOS increasing in gastric mucosal tissues.     

Regulation by endogenous interleukin-1 of mRNA expression of healing-related factors in gastric ulcers in rats.

We investigated the role of endogenous interleukin (IL)-1 in the mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1, epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats. IL-1beta mRNA was not detected in the normal or intact mucosa of ulcerated stomachs, but its expression was induced in the ulcerated tissue. IL-1beta immunoreactivity was observed in macrophages/monocytes and fibroblasts in the ulcer base. COX-2, iNOS, and CINC-1 mRNAs were expressed by ulceration. EGF, bFGF, HGF, and TGF-beta1 mRNA expression was detected in the normal mucosa, and their levels were significantly elevated by ulceration. In contrast, COX-1 mRNA level did not differ between the normal and ulcerated tissues. In a culture of isolated ulcer bases, block of IL-1 with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) dose-dependently and significantly reduced the mRNA levels of COX-2, iNOS, CINC-1, HGF, and bFGF. In contrast, COX-1, EGF, and TGF-beta1 mRNA expression was not affected by IL-1RA. IL-1RA dose-dependently reduced prostaglandin E(2) production, total and iNOS activities, neutrophil chemotactic activity, and growth-promoting activity toward gastric epithelial cells in the ulcer base. Finally, the administration of IL-1RA caused a significant impairment of ulcer healing. These results indicate that IL-1, expressed in macrophages/monocytes and fibroblasts in the ulcer base, might up-regulate the mRNA expression of COX-2, iNOS, CINC-1, HGF, and bFGF, thereby contributing to gastric ulcer healing in rats.