Interleukin-1beta and interleukin-8 expression correlate with the histomorphological changes in esophageal mucosa of patients with erosive and non-erosive reflux disease.

摘要

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) leads to endoscopic and histomorphological changes in the gastroesophageal (GE) mucosa. AIMS: To evaluate the expression of the cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the GE mucosa in GERD patients and controls and to correlate the cytokine expression with the histomorphological parameters. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients, 48 with erosive reflux disease (ERD) and 41 with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) with typical GERD-related symptoms, and 26 controls were included. Endoscopic and histological characterization of esophagitis was performed according to the Los Angeles and Ismeil-Beigi/Vieth criteria, respectively. Mucosal gene expression levels of IL-1beta and IL-8 were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: ERD and NERD patients revealed significant higher levels of IL-1beta and IL-8 transcript levels in the cardia and esophageal mucosa than controls. The esophageal mucosa revealed elevated IL-8 (2.5- and 8.7-fold) and IL-1beta (4.1- and 7.8-fold) transcript levels in NERD and ERD, respectively. Histological analysis demonstrated a stepwise increase of dilatation of intercellular spaces and the degree of basal cell hyperplasia from controls, NERD towards ERD. Gene expression levels of both cytokines correlated with histology. CONCLUSIONS: ERD and NERD are associated with an induction of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and IL-8 that correlates with histomorphological changes in esophageal mucosa.