Project description:ObjectiveThe microbiome has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of allergic and inflammatory diseases. The mucosa affected by eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is composed of a stratified squamous epithelia and contains intraepithelial eosinophils. To date, no studies have identified the esophageal microbiome in patients with EoE or the impact of treatment on these organisms. The aim of this study was to identify the esophageal microbiome in EoE and determine whether treatments change this profile. We hypothesized that clinically relevant alterations in bacterial populations are present in different forms of esophagitis.DesignIn this prospective study, secretions from the esophageal mucosa were collected from children and adults with EoE, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and normal mucosa using the Esophageal String Test (EST). Bacterial load was determined using quantitative PCR. Bacterial communities, determined by 16S rRNA gene amplification and 454 pyrosequencing, were compared between health and disease.ResultsSamples from a total of 70 children and adult subjects were examined. Bacterial load was increased in both EoE and GERD relative to normal subjects. In subjects with EoE, load was increased regardless of treatment status or degree of mucosal eosinophilia compared with normal. Haemophilus was significantly increased in untreated EoE subjects as compared with normal subjects. Streptococcus was decreased in GERD subjects on proton pump inhibition as compared with normal subjects.ConclusionsDiseases associated with mucosal eosinophilia are characterized by a different microbiome from that found in the normal mucosa. Microbiota may contribute to esophageal inflammation in EoE and GERD.
Project description:ObjectivesA minimally invasive biomarker to monitor disease activity is one of the greatest unmet clinical needs of the pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) population. We aimed to determine whether circulating eosinophil progenitors (EoPs) could be used as a biomarker to identify pediatric patients with active EoE.MethodsIn a prospective observational study, peripheral blood samples, symptom history, and laboratory data were collected from pediatric patients undergoing endoscopy for evaluation of EoE on dietary therapy at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Peripheral blood EoP level was determined by flow cytometry.ResultsThirty-four children with active (n = 16) and inactive (n = 18) EoE were included in the analysis. EoP levels in the peripheral blood were 3-fold higher in patients with active EoE than inactive EoE (P < 0.0025). Blood absolute eosinophil count did not distinguish between active and inactive EoE (P = 0.16). A cut-off EoP level ≥17 accurately detected active disease in 79% of patients with 94.4% specificity and 62.5% sensitivity (area under the curve 0.81; P < 0.0024). Antihistamine use lowered the threshold EoP level to detect active EoE.ConclusionsThis study suggests that blood EoP levels may be used as a biomarker to detect active EoE disease in patients undergoing food trials and potentially reduce the need for repeated endoscopies. Larger prospective studies are needed to investigate the effects of antihistamines and swallowed steroids on EoP mobilization into the peripheral blood and longitudinal studies to assess the performance of the assay in individual patients over time.
Project description:Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the esophagus characterized by increased number of eosinophils. Currently, EoE diagnosis is based on endoscopic procedures for histopathological examination, eosinophils' counting and, often, in clinical practice, the challenge is the differentiation between EoE and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Our aim was to develop novel peptide ligand to Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) present in EoE biopsies of patients with potential to be used for detection. We performed a comparative proteomic analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of esophageal biopsies from pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease and control individuals. Then, phage display technology was used to select peptides against specific up-regulated protein from EoE patients. Twelve phage clones were selected after three biopanning rounds, and the best phage clone reactivity was evaluated by phage-ELISA assay using esophageal mucus samples from 94 pediatric patients. Mass spectrometry showed that eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) was one of the most up-regulated proteins in EoE patients, which is an eosinophil granule protein usually deposited on tissues to mediate remodeling, but in excess may cause fibrosis and hypertrophy, especially in allergic responses. A highly reactive ECP-ligand peptide (E5) was able to distinguish reactive mucus of EoE patients from GERD and the control individuals by Phage-ELISA, achieving a sensitivity of 84.62%, and a specificity of 82.72%. This is the first study that successfully demonstrated an antibody-like peptide targeting ECP at the esophagus mucus as a useful auxilliary tool for EoE diagnosis with a significant association with atopic disorders and dysphagia.ClinicalTrials.gov no.: NCT03069573.
Project description:Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is characterized by infiltration of eosinophils into esophageal epithelium. Blood levels of an eosinophil granule protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), have been proposed as a biomarker for EoE. However, information regarding localization of EDN in the diseased tissues has not been available. The goal of this study was to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of EDN deposition in tissue specimens from the esophagus of EoE patients.We studied specimens from 10 adult EoE patients and eight histologically normal controls (three under age 17). Sections from mid-esophageal biopsy specimens were stained for EDN by immunofluorescence, using a polyclonal rabbit antibody to EDN. Cellular staining (i.e., infiltration of intact eosinophils) and extracellular staining (i.e., deposition of released EDN) were scored in a blinded manner on an established 7-point scale.Esophageal biopsy specimens from histologically normal controls showed no or few intact eosinophils and no or minimal extracellular EDN deposition. In contrast, EDN staining was clearly observed in specimens from all EoE patients. In some EoE patients, marked extracellular EDN deposition was observed despite relatively small numbers of intact eosinophils. Overall, there was no correlation between the eosinophil infiltration and the extracellular EDN staining scores.Marked tissue deposition of extracellular EDN is present in the esophagus of EoE patients. Tissue eosinophil counts may underestimate how extensively eosinophils are involved, particularly in individuals with marked eosinophil degranulation. Evaluation of EDN staining in esophageal biopsy specimens may be useful to diagnose and manage patients with EoE.
Project description:Background and aimsUltrasonography has shown that eosinophils accumulate in each segment of the esophageal mucosa in human EoE, ultimately promoting esophageal motility dysfunction; however, no mechanistic evidence explains how or why this accumulation occurs.MethodsQuantitative PCR, ELISA, flow cytometry, immunostaining, and immunofluorescence analyses were performed using antibodies specific to the related antigens and receptors.ResultsIn deep esophageal biopsies of EoE patients, eosinophils and mast cells accumulate adjacent to nerve cell-derived VIP in each esophageal segment. qRT-PCR analysis revealed five- to sixfold increases in expression levels of VIP, CRTH2, and VAPC2 receptors and proteins in human blood- and tissue-accumulated eosinophils and mast cells. We also observed a significant correlation between mRNA CRTH2 levels and eosinophil- and nerve cell-derived VIPs in human EoE (p < 0.05). We provide evidence that eosinophil and mast cell deficiency following CRTH2 antagonist treatment improves motility dysfunction in a chronic DOX-inducible CC10-IL-13 murine model of experimental EoE.ConclusionsCRTH2 antagonist treatment is a novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory cell-induced esophageal motility dysfunction in IL-13-induced chronic experimental EoE.
Project description:Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is involved in eosinophil biology and in type 2 inflammation, contributing to allergic and helminthic diseases. We hypothesized that MIF participates in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an allergic condition characterized by esophageal eosinophilic inflammation. MIF is highly expressed in esophageal mucosa of patients with EoE, compared with gastro-esophageal reflux disease and control patients, where it co-localizes predominantly with eosinophils. In vitro, recombinant MIF promotes human eosinophil chemotaxis, while MIF antagonist and CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, revert this effect. In a model of EoE induced by ovalbumin, Mif-deficient mice have reduced inflammation and collagen deposition compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Importantly, treatment of WT mice with anti-MIF or with AMD3100 during the challenge phase prevents accumulation of eosinophils and tissue remodeling. Conversely, recombinant MIF promoted tissue eosinophil inflammation in allergic mice. Together, these results implicate MIF in the pathogenesis of esophageal inflammation and suggest that targeting MIF might represent a novel therapy for EoE.
Project description:The incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has increased in the past several years, yet our understanding of its pathogenesis remains limited. To test the hypothesis that microRNAs (miRNAs) are altered in children with EoE, miRNAs were profiled in esophageal mucosa biopsies obtained from patients with active disease (n = 5) and healthy control subjects (n = 6). Fourteen miRNAs were significantly altered between groups; four of these miRNAs were decreased in EoE patients. A panel of five miRNAs (miR-203, miR-375, miR-21, miR-223, and miR-142-3p) were selected for validation in an independent set of samples from control (n = 22), active disease (n = 22), inactive disease (n = 22), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (n = 6) patients. Each panel miRNA was significantly altered among groups. miRNA changes in esophageal biopsies were not reflected in the circulating RNA pool, as no differences in panel miRNA levels were observed in sera collected from the four patient groups. In addition, in contrast to previous studies, no change in esophageal miRNA levels was detected following treatment that resolved esophageal eosinophilia. In an effort to identify the ramifications of reduced esophageal miR-203, miR-203 activity was inhibited in cultured epithelial cells via expression of a tough decoy miRNA inhibitor. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-203 does not directly regulate human IL-15 through targeting of the IL-15 3'-untranslated region. From these experiments, it is concluded that miRNAs are perturbed in the esophageal mucosa, but not the serum, of pediatric EoE patients. Further investigation is required to decipher pathologically relevant consequences of miRNA perturbation in this context.
Project description:BackgroundEosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is an emerging worldwide disease that mimics gastroesophageal reflux disease.ObjectiveEarly studies have suggested that esophageal eosinophilia occurs in association with T(H)2 allergic responses, yet the local and systemic expression of relevant cytokines has not been well characterized.MethodsA human inflammatory cytokine and receptor PCR array containing 84 genes followed by PCR validation and multiplex arrays were used to quantify cytokine mRNA in esophageal biopsies and blood samples.ResultsEsophageal transcripts of numerous chemokines (eg, chemokine [C-C motif] ligand [CCL] 1, CCL1, CCL23, CCL26 [eotaxin-3], chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand [CXCL] 1, and CXCL2), cytokines (eg, IL13 and ATP-binding cassette, subfamily F, member 1), and cytokine receptors (eg, IL5 receptor, alpha) were induced at least 4-fold in individuals with EE. Analysis of esophageal biopsies (n = 288) revealed that eotaxin-3 mRNA level alone had 89% sensitivity for distinguishing individuals with and without EE. The presence of allergy was associated with significantly increased esophageal expression of IL4 and IL5 mRNA in patients with active EE. We identified 8 cytokines (IL-4, IL-13, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12p70, CD40 ligand, IL-1?, and IL-17) whose blood levels retrospectively distinguished 12 patients without EE from 13 patients with EE with 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity. When applied to a blind, prospectively recruited group of 36 patients, the cytokine panel scoring system had a 79% positive predictive value, 68% negative predictive value, 61% sensitivity, and 83% specificity for identifying EE.ConclusionEvidence is presented that IL13 and IL5 associate with eosinophil and eotaxin-3 levels, indicating the key role of adaptive T(H)2 immunity in regulating eotaxin-3-driven esophageal eosinophilia in the absence of a consistent systemic change in cytokines.
Project description:ObjectiveRecent studies show increased serum and esophageal IgG4 in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), suggesting a possible IgG4-involved process. The role of IgG4 in pediatric EoE has not been extensively investigated. Our aim was to analyze IgG4 in esophageal tissue in children in parallel to that in adults with EoE.MethodsIn a retrospective institutional review board-approved study, we performed immunohistochemical staining of IgG4 in esophageal biopsy specimens from 39 subjects: children with EoE (n = 16), adults with EoE (n = 15), children with reflux esophagitis (n = 4), and pediatric controls (n = 4). We assessed the relationships between IgG4 staining and clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic characteristics.ResultsPatients with EoE were significantly more likely to stain positively for IgG4 than children with reflux esophagitis or controls (P = 0.015). Fifteen of 31 (48%) EoE cases stained positively for IgG4. None of the reflux esophagitis or control cases stained positively. IgG4 staining had 48% sensitivity and 100% specificity for EoE. There was a trend toward IgG4 staining being associated with foreign body/food impaction (P = 0.153). There was a strong association between distal IgG4 staining and basal zone hyperplasia (P = 0.003).ConclusionsOur study suggests IgG4 is not a consistent finding of EoE at disease diagnosis. Although IgG4 staining was specific for EoE, it had a poor sensitivity with positive staining in only 48% of EoE patients. Further studies are warranted to fully elucidate the role of IgG4 in EoE.
Project description:Background & aimsAn association of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) with esophageal dysmotility has been described, however, the related mechanism remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate clinical and physiologic characteristics, including esophageal distensibility, associated with secondary peristalsis in patients with EoE.MethodsA total of 199 consecutive adult patients with EoE (age, 18-78 y; 32% female) who completed a 16-cm functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP) during endoscopy were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. FLIP panometry contractile response (CR) patterns were classified as normal CR or borderline CR if antegrade contractions were present, and abnormal CRs included impaired/disordered CR, absent CR, or spastic-reactive CR. The distensibility plateau of the esophageal body and esophagogastric junction distensibility was measured with FLIP.ResultsFLIP CR patterns included 68 (34%) normal CR, 65 (33%) borderline CR, 44 (22%) impaired/disordered CR, 16 (8%) absent CR, and 6 (3%) spastic-reactive CR. Compared with normal CRs, abnormal CRs more frequently had reduced esophageal distensibility (distensibility plateau <17 mm in 56% vs 32%), greater total EoE reference scores (median, 5; interquartile range [IQR], 3-6 vs median, 4; IQR, 3-5) with more severe ring scores, and a greater duration of symptoms (median, 10 y; IQR, 4-23 y vs median, 7 y; IQR, 3-15 y). Mucosal eosinophil density, however, was similar between abnormal CRs and normal CRs (median, 34 eosinophils/high-power field [hpf]; IQR, 14-60 eosinophils/hpf vs median, 25 eosinophils/hpf; IQR, 5-50 eosinophils/hpf).ConclusionsAlthough normal secondary peristalsis was observed frequently in this EoE cohort, abnormal esophageal CRs were related to EoE disease severity, especially features of fibrostenosis. This study evaluating secondary peristalsis in EoE suggests that esophageal wall remodeling, rather than eosinophilic inflammatory intensity, was associated with esophageal dysmotility in EoE.