Epidermal growth factor and gastrin in scleroderma/CREST syndrome

Background. The objective of this study was to determine levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and gastrin (GA) in saliva, serum, and urine in scleroderma (Scl) and CREST syndrome. Methods. EGF and GA levels were mesured by radioimmunoassay in saliva, serum and urine in 10 patients (51 years, median; range, 35-66 years); 9 females and 1 male with Scl, 3 females with CREST syndrome, and 18 age-and sex-matched controls, 17 females and 1 male free of any systemic inflammatory disease. Results. In serum, the EGF was lower in Scl/CREST than controls (p=0.02), while GA serum concentrations were higher in Scl/CREST (p=0.02). In urine, EGF in Scl/CREST was slightly lower than controls (p=NS) and GA concentrations were higher than controls (p=0.03). In saliva, the EGF levels in Scl/CREST were also slightly lower than controls (p=NS), while GA concentrations in both Scl/CREST and controls were not different (p=NS). Conclusions. Low concentrations of EGF in serum probably play a role in the pathogenesis of Scl/CREST. GA concentration can be increased as a consequence of the low levels of EGF because of the structural homology of this peptide with urogastrone, a GA inhibitor factor

Participación de hormonas y factores reguladores de la implantación y el desarrollo de la unidad fetoplacentaria / Hormonal participation and regulating factors of implantation and the fetoplacentary unity development

Si bien el embrión tiene un programa genético de su propio desarrollo, para que se lleven a cabo el desarrollo y diferenciación embrionaria, así como la gestación normal, deben establecerse una serie de interacciones coordinadas entre el concepto y la madre, las cuales son mediadas por mensajeros químicos mediante mecanismo autocrinos, paracrinos y endocrinos. En el presente trabajo se analiza la participación de hormonas y factores réguladores de la implantación y el desarrollo de la unidad feto-placentaria