title: Topical corticosteroids do not revert the activated phenotype of eosinophils in eosinophilic esophagitis but decrease surface levels of CD18 resulting in diminished adherence to ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and endothelial cells.
abstract: Swallowed topical corticosteroids are the standard therapy for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in adults. Eosinophils in the blood of untreated EoE patients have an activated phenotype. Our aim was to determine if corticosteroids restore the phenotype of eosinophils to a healthy phenotype and if certain cell-surface molecules on blood eosinophils correlate with eosinophilic infiltration of the esophagus. Levels of eight surface markers on eosinophils from treated and untreated EoE patients were determined by flow cytometry and analyzed using multivariate methods of pattern recognition. Corticosteroid-treated EoE patients' eosinophils had decreased levels of CD18 compared to both untreated patients and healthy controls, but maintained their activated phenotype. CD18 expression correlated positively with eosinophil numbers in the esophagus and promoted the adherence of eosinophils to ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and to endothelial cells. The diminished expression of CD18 may be one mechanism behind the reduced entry of eosinophils into the esophagus in corticosteroid-treated EoE patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 41346, Göteborg, Sweden, christine.lingblom@microbio.gu.se.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lingblom
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergquist
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnsson
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sundström
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quiding-Järbrink
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wennerås
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C065289:ICAM2 protein, human; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1