title: Alterations in junctional proteins, inflammatory mediators and extracellular matrix molecules in eosinophilic esophagitis.
abstract: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an inflammatory atopic disease of the esophagus, causes massive eosinophil infiltration, basal cell hyperplasia, and sub-epithelial fibrosis. To elucidate cellular and molecular factors involved in esophageal tissue damage and remodeling, we examined pinch biopsies from EoE and normal pediatric patients. An inflammation gene array confirmed that eotaxin-3, its receptor CCR3 and interleukins IL-13 and IL-5 were upregulated. An extracellular matrix (ECM) gene array revealed upregulation of CD44 & CD54, and of ECM proteases (ADAMTS1 & MMP14). A cytokine antibody array showed a marked decrease in IL-1α and IL-1 receptor antagonist and an increase in eotaxin-2 and epidermal growth factor. Western analysis indicated reduced expression of intercellular junction proteins, E-cadherin and claudin-1 and increased expression of occludin and vimentin. We have identified a number of novel genes and proteins whose expression is altered in EoE. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Medicine/Gastroenterology and Physiology, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA, USA. solange@tulane.edu
authors.forename: Solange M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abdulnour-Nakhoul
authors.forename: Youhanna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Tawil
authors.forename: Alex A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gyftopoulos
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Kathy F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Butcher
authors.forename: Alexandra P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Eidelwein
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: Edd
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rabon
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Posta
authors.forename: Nazih L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Nakhoul
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000737:chemistry; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D062726:Junctional Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D062726:Junctional Adhesion Molecules; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins; D014746:Vimentin
keywords: Claudin-1; Cytokines; E-cadherin; Inflammation; Occludin; Vimentin