Squamous tissue lymphocytes in the esophagus of controls and patients with reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus are characterized by a non-inflammatory phenotype.

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 (αE/epithelial integrin) and NKg2a (

SUBMITTER: Lind A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4149547 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature