A12 INTESINAL TREFOIL FACTOR (ITF) PLAYS CRITICAL ROLES IN INNATE PROTECTION AGAINST AND RECOVERY FROM CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE COLITIS

摘要

BackgroundClostridium Difficile (Cdif) colitis is a leading cause of morbidity & mortality in many patients including: hospitalized elderly, those with IBD, and immunocompromised. Little is known of the mechanisms involved in protection against, and recovery from, Cdif toxin-induced injury. Histological findings of Cdif colitis include; epithelial disruption, inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell depletion & when severe, pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). We previously showed Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF) plays protective roles on Cdif exposure. KGF-/- mice had more severe Cdif toxin-induced injury & greater depletion of goblet cells and the goblet cell derived growth factor ITF. Since KGF directly binds the ITF promoter (increasing ITF) and Cdif colitis is associated with goblet cell depletion & loss of ITF we developed the following aim.