title: MicroRNA-196a & microRNA-101 expression in Barrett's oesophagus in patients with medically and surgically treated gastro-oesophageal reflux.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication and surgical fundoplication are used for the control of gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients with Barrett's oesophagus, but differ in their effectiveness for both acid and bile reflux. This might impact on the inflammatory processes that are associated with progression of Barrett's oesophagus to cancer, and this may be evident in the gene expression profile and microRNA expression pattern in Barrett's oesophagus mucosa. We hypothesised that two miRNAs with inflammatory and oncogenic roles, miR-101 and miR-196a, are differentially expressed in Barrett's oesophagus epithelium in patients with reflux treated medically vs. surgically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mucosal tissue was obtained at endoscopy from patients with Barrett's oesophagus whose reflux was controlled by proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy (n = 20) or by fundoplication (n = 19). RNA was extracted and the expression of miR-101 and miR-196a was measured using real-time reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction. There were no significant differences in miR-101 and miR-196a expression in Barrett's oesophagus epithelium in patients treated by PPI vs. fundoplication (p = 0.768 and 0.211 respectively). Secondary analysis showed a correlation between miR-196a expression and Barrett's oesophagus segment length (p = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method of reflux treatment did not influence the expression of miR-101 and miR-196a in Barrett's oesophagus. This data does not provide support to the hypothesis that surgical treatment of reflux better prevents cancer development in Barrett's oesophagus. The association between miR-196a expression and Barrett's oesophagus length is consistent with a tumour promoting role for miR-196a in Barrett's oesophagus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Flinders Medical Centre, Room 3D211, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia. damian.hussey@flinders.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haiart
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Astill
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bright
authors.forename: Damian J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hussey