Intestinal atrophy contributes to the clinical difficulties of patients who cannot eat normally. Atrophy is prevented by luminal food proteins but not by the equivalent aminoacids. This observation is not explained by current theories of intestinal physiology. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor α (TGFα) are secreted into the gut lumen. We speculated that these are digested by pancreatic enzymes in fasting juice, but preserved when food proteins block the active sites of these enzymes. Studies based on molecular size and bioactivity confirmed that fasting human jejunal juice destroys EGF and TGFα. EGF, but not TGFα, was preserved when the milk protein casein or an enzyme inhibitor were present; elemental diets were ineffective. Diversion of pancreatic juice to the mid point of the small intestine in rats significantly increased luminal EG F-like bioactivity and all variables of growth in the proximal enzyme-free segment. Our findings support a novel mechanism of control of intestinal growth, which has important clinical implications. The addition of enzyme-inhibiting proteins such as casein to elemental diets may preserve intestinal integrity and function. © 1993.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Clinical Sciences
Research Field:	Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions)
Objective Field:	Digestive System Disorders
Author:	Playford, RJ (Professor Ray Playford)
ID Code:	72830
Year Published:	1993
Web of Science® Times Cited:	92
Deposited By:	Research Division
Deposited On:	2011-09-01
Last Modified:	2011-09-05
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