Trefoil Factor Family: A Troika for Lung Repair and Regeneration.

Tissue damage in the upper and lower airways caused by mechanical abrasion, noxious chemicals, or pathogenic organisms must be followed by rapid restorative processes; otherwise, persistent immunopathology and disease may ensue. This review will discuss evidence for the important role served by trefoil factor (TFF) family members in healthy and diseased airways of humans and rodents. Collectively, these peptides serve to both maintain and restore homeostasis through their regulation of the mucous layer and their control of cell motility, cell differentiation, and immune function in the upper and lower airways.