title: REG Ialpha protein expression in Barrett's esophagus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Accelerated cellular proliferation in Barrett's esophagus has been implicated in Barrett's elongation and malignant transformation. Therefore, growth factors may play important roles in the pathophysiology of Barrett's esophagus. Regenerating gene (REG), an epithelial growth factor, has been reported to link mucosal inflammation and subsequent carcinogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to investigate whether REG is expressed in Barrett's esophagus and to elucidate the relationship between REG protein expression and clinicopathological factors of Barrett's esophagus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2003 and June 2004, 266 patients with endoscopically and histologically proven Barrett's esophagus were enrolled in this study. Before endoscopic examination, all participants were requested to answer structured questionnaires on gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and drugs usage. Mucin phenotype, cyclooxygenase-2 expression, cellular proliferation, apoptosis and REG Ialpha protein expression were investigated in the biopsy samples taken from Barrett's esophagus. Clinicopathological factors that correlated with REG Ialpha protein expression in patients with Barrett's esophagus were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  REG Ialpha protein expression was observed in 48 (18.0%) of 266 patients with Barrett's esophagus by immunohistochemistry. Newly developed squamous re-epithelialization of Barrett's esophagus at biopsy sites, presence of hiatal hernia and aging were shown to correlate with REG Ialpha protein expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study is the first to show REG expression in Barrett's esophagus. Expression of REG Ialpha was more frequently observed in patients who showed squamous re-epithelialization of Barrett's esophagus at biopsy sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University, School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chinuki
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishimura
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kazumori
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kadowaki
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takasawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051847:Lithostathine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051847:Lithostathine; C497617:REG1A protein, human; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta