Pepsin and gastric luminal irritants

Pepsin is a major aspartic protease (EC 3.4.23.1) produced in the stomach that facilitates the digestion of dietary proteins by cleaving peptide bonds (StatPearls, 2023). It is secreted as the inactive zymogen pepsinogen by gastric chief cells and is activated by the low pH environment created by hydrochloric acid (HCl) (PubMed, PMID: 25102588). Gastric luminal irritants, which include pepsin, HCl, and refluxed bile acids, are collectively known as aggressive factors that can damage the gastrointestinal mucosa if the protective mucus-bicarbonate barrier is compromised (NCBI, NBK537005). This damage is a primary driver of conditions such as peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Pharmacological intervention focuses on neutralizing these irritants using antacids, inhibiting pepsin activity through pH elevation, or providing a physical barrier with mucosal protectants like sucralfate and alginates to prevent tissue injury (DrugBank, DB00364; PubMed, PMID: 17269992).

Other names

Gastric acid and pepsinGastric aggressive factorsGastric juice irritantsGastric luminal factors

Neutralization of gastric acid, physical sequestration of pepsin and bile acids, and formation of a protective barrier over damaged mucosa.