Human transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) is digested to a smaller (1-43), less biologically active, form in acidic gastric juice.

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) is a 50 amino acid peptide with potent proliferative and cytoprotective activity present in gastric mucosa and juice. AIMS: To determine the forms and biological activity of natural and recombinant TGF-alpha following incubation with acid pepsin. PATIENTS: Human gastric juice was obtained under basal conditions from patients taking acid suppressants and from volunteers undergoing intragastric neutralisation. METHODS: Samples were analysed using mass spectroscopy and/or high pressure liquid chromatography with radioimmunoassay. Biological activity was determined using thymidine incorporation into rat hepatocytes and an indomethacin/restraint induced gastric damage rat model. RESULTS: TGF-alpha(1-50) is cleaved to TGF-alpha(1-43) by acid pepsin and this is the predominant form in normal gastric juice. However, intragastric neutralisation or taking acid suppressants caused the predominant form to be TGF-alpha(1-50). TGF-alpha(1-43) had only half of the ability to maximally stimulate [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into primary rat hepatocytes (28 177 (1130) DPM/well for 2.16 nM TGF-alpha(1-43) v 63 184 (3536) DPM/well for TGF-alpha(1-50); p<0.001). A similar reduced potency was seen when used in an indomethacin induced rat gastric damage model (0.18 micro mol/kg/h of TGF-alpha(1-43) reduced ulcer area by 19% whereas TGF-alpha(1-50) reduced area by 62%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TGF-alpha(1-50) is cleaved to the TGF-alpha(1-43) form by acid pepsin, causing 2-5-fold loss of biological activity. Such changes may have relevance to the actions of acid suppressants and the importance of this peptide in both normal and abnormal growth.