PPAR[gamma] mediates NSAIDs-induced upregulation of TFF2 expression in gastric epithelial cells

Trefoil factor family (TFF) is a group of peptides that play critical roles in maintaining gastric mucosal integrity. In real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and reporter gene assays, we show that indomethacin and aspirin upregulate TFF2 expression in MKN45 gastric cells. These drugs also activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [gamma] (PPAR[gamma]) at concentration ranges that increase TFF2 expression, and upregulated TFF2 expression was suppressed by GW9662, a specific inhibitor of PPAR[gamma]. These results suggest that indomethacin and aspirin upregulate gastric expression of TFF2 through activation of PPAR[gamma]. This mechanism may be important in reducing the extent of gastric mucosal injury caused by the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).