A process of increasing the expression of TGF- beta 1 from cells in a mammalian patient, comprises administering to the patient an effective amount of stressed mammalian blood cells, said stressed cells having been extracorporeally subjected to at least one stressor selected from oxidative stress and ultraviolet radiation, to obtain a pharmaceutically useful composition. The composition shows potential in the treatment of ulcers in mammalian patients, to accelerate the healing thereof.
