title: Differences in eosinophil molecular profiles between children and adults with eosinophilic esophagitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) afflicts both children and adults. It has been debated whether pediatric EoE and adult EoE represent different disease entities. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the blood eosinophil molecular pattern of children with EoE is (i) distinct from that of healthy children; and (ii) different from that of adults with EoE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood eosinophils from children and adults with EoE, and healthy controls, were analyzed with flow cytometry regarding levels of CD23, CD44, CD54, CRTH2, FOXP3, and galectin-10. Eosinophil FOXP3 and galectin-10 mRNA levels were determined by qPCR. The data were analyzed using a multivariate method of pattern recognition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An eosinophil molecular pattern capable of distinguishing children with EoE from control children was identified. A smaller fraction of eosinophils from children with EoE expressed CD44 and a larger fraction expressed CRTH2 than the controls. Eosinophils from children with EoE also had higher levels of galectin-10 mRNA and lower levels of FOXP3 mRNA. The eosinophils from children with EoE had lower levels of surface CD54 and of FOXP3 mRNA compared with the eosinophils from the adult patients. A key finding was the detection in healthy individuals of age-related differences in the levels of several eosinophil markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with EoE can be distinguished from healthy children based on the molecular patterns of their blood eosinophils. Age-related physiologic differences in eosinophil molecular patterns may partly explain the different blood eosinophil phenotypes in children vs adults with EoE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lingblom
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institution of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Käppi
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergquist
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, NÄL Hospital, Trollhättan, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, NÄL Hospital, Trollhättan, Sweden.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arkel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institution of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saalman
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0950-1165
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wennerås
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Adult; Child; FOXP3; eosinophilic esophagitis; galectin-10