title: Esophageal epithelial and mesenchymal cross-talk leads to features of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal fibrosis is a complication of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) which has been attributed to both subepithelial fibrosis and to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process by which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal features. Common to both causes of EoE-fibrosis is the notion that granulocyte-derived TGF-β, induces myofibroblast differentiation of the target cell. To date, the role of esophageal epithelial cells as effector cells in esophageal fibrosis has never been explored. Herein, we investigated consequences of cross-talk between esophageal epithelial cells and fibroblasts, and identified profibrotic cytokines which influence the development of EMT in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stimulation of primary fetal esophageal fibroblasts (FEF3) with conditioned media (CEM) from esophageal epithelial cells (EPC2-hTERT), primed FEF3 cells to secrete IL-1β and TNFα, but not TGFβ. To determine whether these cytokines signaled in a paracrine fashion to esophageal epithelial cells, FEF3 cells were stimulated with CEM, followed by transfer of this fibroblast conditioned media (FCM) to EPC2-hTERT cells. Epithelial FCM stimulation increased expression of mesenchymal markers and reduced E-cadherin expression, features of EMT which were TNFα and IL-1β-dependent. Using organotypic culture models, primary EoE epithelial cells exhibited features of EMT compared to non-EoE cells, corresponding to patterns of EMT in native biopsies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Esophageal epithelial cell and fibroblast cross-talk contributes to esophageal fibrosis. Our results suggest that features of EMT can develop independent of TGF-β and granulocytes, which may have important implications in treatment of EoE.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th and Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Alain J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.forename: Prasanna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Modayur Chandramouleeswaran
authors.forename: Anna J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eduardo D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Ruchelli
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Spergel
authors.forename: Mei-Lun
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D004947:Esophagus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; C508585:IL1B protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha