Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2011; 17(40): 4496-4502
Published online Oct 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i40.4496
Cell proliferation of esophageal squamous epithelium in erosive and non-erosive reflux disease
Carlo Calabrese, Lorenzo Montanaro, Giuseppina Liguori, Elisa Brighenti, Mauela Vici, Paolo Gionchetti, Fernando Rizzello, Massimo Campieri, Massimo Derenzini, Davide Trerè
Carlo Calabrese, Giuseppina Liguori, Paolo Gionchetti, Fernando Rizzello, Massimo Campieri, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Lorenzo Montanaro, Elisa Brighenti, Mauela Vici, Davide Trerè, Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Massimo Derenzini, Clinical Department Radiological and Histocytopathological Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Author contributions: Calabrese C, Montanaro L and Trerè D designed the research; Calabrese C, Montanaro L, Liguori G, Brighenti E, Vici M and Trerè D performed the research; Calabrese C, Montanaro L, Trerè D, Derenzini M, Gionchetti P, Rizzello F, Campieri M analyzed the data; Calabrese C, Montanaro L and Trerè D wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Carlo Calabrese, MD, PhD, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy. carlo.calabrese2@unibo.it
Telephone: +39-0516-364191 Fax: +39-0516-364191
Received: March 17, 2011
Revised: June 2, 2011
Accepted: June 9, 2011
Published online: October 28, 2011
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: Esophageal cell proliferation; Erosive reflux disease; Non-erosive reflux disease; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Cyclin A; Cyclin D; Bromodeoxyuridine