Molecular characterization of systemic sclerosis esophageal pathology identifies inflammatory and proliferative signatures.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Esophageal involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is common, but tissue-specific pathological mechanisms are poorly understood. There are no animal scleroderma esophagus models and esophageal smooth muscle cells dedifferentiate in culture prohibiting in vitro studies. Esophageal fibrosis is thought to disrupt smooth muscle function and lead to esophageal dilatation, but autopsy studies demonstrate esophageal smooth muscle atrophy and the absence of fibrosis in the majority of SSc cases. Herein, we perform a detailed characterization of SSc esophageal histopathology and molecular signatures at the level of gene expression.

Methods

Esophageal biopsies were prospectively obtained during esophagogastroduodenoscopy in 16 consecutive SSc patients and 7

SUBMITTER: Taroni JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4518531 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature