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ABSTRACT: Background and objective
Reflux esophagitis (RE) is characterized by inflammation of the squamous epithelium (SQ) of the esophagus and may progress to Barrett's esophagus (BE) characterized by intestinal metaplasia. The role of inflammation in this transition has been postulated but lacks experimental evidence. Here, the inflammatory responses in the esophagus of these patients were investigated.Patients and methods
Fifty-one esophageal biopsies from with patients BE (n?=?19), RE (n?=?8) and controls (n?=?23) were analyzed. T-cells were analyzed before and after ex vivo expansion (14 days) by multicolor flow cytometric analysis. The following markers were studied: CD3, CD4, CD8 (T-cell markers), Granzyme B (marker of cytotoxicity), CD103 (?E/epithelial integrin) and NKg2a (inhibitory receptor on T-cells and NK-cells).Results
Analysis of ex vivo cultures from normal looking SQ from controls, RE patients, and BE patients revealed no significant differences in the number and phenotypes of T-cells. In contrast, tissue from RE was different to normal SQ in four aspects: 1) higher percentages of CD3+ CD4+-cells (72±7% vs 48±6%, p?=?0.01) and 2) CD8+ GranzymeB+-cells (53±11% vs 26±4%, p<0.05), while 3) lower percentages of CD4+ CD103+-cells (45±19% vs 80±3%, p?=?0.02) and 4) CD8+ NKg2a+-cells (31±12% vs 44±5%).Conclusion
Despite the fact that both tissues are exposed to the same reflux associated inflammatory triggers, the immune response observed in RE is clearly distinct from that in SQ of BE. The differences in immune responses in BE tissue might contribute to its susceptibility for transformation into intestinal metaplasia.
SUBMITTER: Lind A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4149547 | biostudies-literature | 2014
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Lind Alexandra A Koenderman Leo L Kusters Johannes G JG Siersema Peter D PD
PloS one 20140829 8
<h4>Background and objective</h4>Reflux esophagitis (RE) is characterized by inflammation of the squamous epithelium (SQ) of the esophagus and may progress to Barrett's esophagus (BE) characterized by intestinal metaplasia. The role of inflammation in this transition has been postulated but lacks experimental evidence. Here, the inflammatory responses in the esophagus of these patients were investigated.<h4>Patients and methods</h4>Fifty-one esophageal biopsies from with patients BE (n = 19), RE ...[more]