title: Comparison of gene expression profiles in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) between Japan and Western countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence rate of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) between Japan and Western countries is quite different. Although multiple factors, including the genetic background, lifestyle and dietary habits, may account for the difference, the pathogenic mechanism of EoE has not been fully clarified in Japanese. To elucidate whether EoE's pathogenic mechanisms differ between those populations, we performed transcriptome analysis of esophageal biopsy specimens from Japanese EoE patients and compared the identified gene signatures with published microarray data for EoE patients in the US.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled adult Japanese EoE patients (n = 4) according to the 2011 consensus guidelines for diagnosis of EoE. Age-matched healthy volunteer subjects (n = 4) were also enrolled as controls. We assessed the gene expression profiles of esophageal biopsies using microarray technology and then compared the identified gene signatures with earlier data generated in the US.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 42,545 transcripts represented on the microarray, 385 were differentially expressed between the EoE and control samples (≥2 fold change and adjusted p-value of <0.05). Our microarray data showed strong overlapping with the data from US patients with EoE. An EoE-specific-transcript signature is typically composed of IL-13-inducible and eosinophil-related genes, including eotaxin-3/C-C chemokine ligand 26 (CCL26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This transcriptome study suggests that the pathogenetic mechanisms of EoE in Japan and Western countries are similar. Our findings may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of EoE and to more accurate diagnosis of this disease in Japanese individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: shoda-t@ncchd.go.jp.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shoda
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: kinosita@med.shimane-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000075906:Chemokine CCL26; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000235:genetics; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics; D007564:Japan; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D059467:Transcriptome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: C120429:CCL26 protein, human; D000075906:Chemokine CCL26; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D018793:Interleukin-13
keywords: Eosinophils; Food hypersensitivity; Gene expression; Japanese; Microarray