Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Oct 28;17(40):4496-502.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i40.4496.

Cell proliferation of esophageal squamous epithelium in erosive and non-erosive reflux disease

Carlo Calabrese  1 , Lorenzo Montanaro, Giuseppina Liguori, Elisa Brighenti, Mauela Vici, Paolo Gionchetti, Fernando Rizzello, Massimo Campieri, Massimo Derenzini, Davide Trerè
Affiliations

Cell proliferation of esophageal squamous epithelium in erosive and non-erosive reflux disease

Carlo Calabrese et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To elucidate cell proliferation in erosive reflux disease (ERD) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), we evaluated markers in squamous epithelial cells.

Methods: Thirty-four consecutive patients with gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-related symptoms (21 NERD and 13 ERD) were evaluated for the enrolment into the study. All patients underwent 24-h pH monitoring, standard endoscopy, and biopsy for histological evaluation. The expression of cyclins D and A was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from isolated epithelial cells. In all samples, analysis of the isolated cell population revealed the presence of epithelial cells only.

Results: Real-time RT-PCR showed that, in patients with ERD, the relative expression of cyclin D1 mRNA in esophageal epithelium was strongly decreased in comparison with NERD patients. The mean value of relative expression of cyclin D1 mRNA in NERD patients was 3.44 ± 1.9, whereas in ERD patients, it was 1.32 ± 0.87 (P = 0.011). Real-time RT-PCR showed that, in patients with ERD, relative expression of cyclin A mRNA in esophageal epithelium was decreased in comparison with that in NERD patients (2.31 ± 2.87 vs 0.66 ± 1.11). The mean bromodeoxyuridine labeling index in the NERD patients was 5.42% ± 1.68%, whereas in ERD patients, it was 4.3% ± 1.59%.

Conclusion: We confirmed reduced epithelial proliferation in ERD compared with NERD patients, and that individuals who develop ERD are characterized by weaker epithelial cell proliferation.

Keywords: Bromodeoxyuridine; Cyclin A; Cyclin D; Erosive reflux disease; Esophageal cell proliferation; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Non-erosive reflux disease.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study profile. RT-PCR: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; NERD: Non-erosive reflux disease; ERD: Erosive reflux disease.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cytological preparation from esophageal biopsy after epithelial cell isolation. Only epithelial cells were present. Toluidine blue staining (300 ×).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Box plots of relative expression of cyclin D1 mRNA by real-time RT-PCR analysis; median (bold line in box), and interquartile range (upper and lower lines of the box) in human esophageal mucosa of NERD and ERD patients (P < 0.01). RT-PCR: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; NERD: Non-erosive reflux disease; ERD: Erosive reflux disease.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Box plots of relative expression of cyclin A mRNA by real-time RT-PCR analysis values; median (bold line in box), and interquartile range (upper and lower lines of the box) in human esophageal mucosa of NERD and ERD patients. RT-PCR: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; NERD: Non-erosive reflux disease; ERD: Erosive reflux disease.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Box plots of BrdU-LI analysis values, median (bold line in the box), and interquartile range (upper and lower lines of the box) in human esophageal mucosa of NERD and ERD patients. NERD: Non-erosive reflux disease; ERD: Erosive reflux disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Hershcovici T, Fass R. Nonerosive Reflux Disease (NERD) - An Update. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2010;16:8–21. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Calabrese C, Trerè D, Fabbri A, Cenacchi G, Vici M, Derenzini M, Di Febo G. Endoscopic appearance of GERD: putative role of cell proliferation. Dig Liver Dis. 2007;39:713–719. - PubMed
    1. Calabrese C, Treré D, Liguori G, Gabusi V, Vici M, Cenacchi G, Derenzini M, Di Febo G. Esophageal cell proliferation in gastroesophageal reflux disease: clinical-morphological data before and after pantoprazole. World J Gastroenterol. 2009;15:936–941. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Mastracci L, Grillo F, Zentilin P, Spaggiari P, Dulbecco P, Pigozzi S, Savarino V, Fiocca R. Cell proliferation of squamous epithelium in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: correlations with clinical, endoscopic and morphological data. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2007;25:637–645. - PubMed
    1. Pacini F, Calabrese C, Cipolletta L, Valva MD, Russo A, Savarino V, Vigneri S. Burden of illness in Italian patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Curr Med Res Opin. 2005;21:495–502. - PubMed