Anti-IL-5 therapy reduces mast cell and IL-9 cell numbers in pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a clinicopathologic entity of increasing worldwide prevalence. IL-5 is essential for eosinophil trafficking, and anti-IL-5 therapy decreases esophageal eosinophilia. EoE is associated with prominent mast cell infiltration.

Objective

We investigated whether anti-IL-5 (mepolizumab) treatment reduced esophageal mast cell accumulation in biopsy specimens from pediatric patients with EoE from a previous randomized anti-IL-5 trial.

Methods

A subanalysis was completed for children treated with 0.55, 2.5, or 10 mg/kg mepolizumab monthly for 12 weeks followed by no treatment until week 24. Quantitative immunochemistry was used to assess the numbers of eosinophils, tryptase-positive mast cells, IL-9(+) cells, and mast cell-eosinophil

SUBMITTER: Otani IM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3699422 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature