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Racca F, Pellegatta G, Cataldo G, Vespa E, Carlani E, Pelaia C, Paoletti G, Messina MR, Nappi E, Canonica GW, Repici A, Heffler E. Type 2 Inflammation in Eosinophilic Esophagitis: From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic Targets. Front Physiol 2022; 12:815842. [PMID: 35095572 PMCID: PMC8790151 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.815842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the esophagus characterized clinically by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction and histologically by eosinophil-predominant inflammation, whose incidence is rising. It significantly affects patients’ quality of life and, if left untreated, results in fibrotic complications. Although broad consensus has been achieved on first-line therapy, a subset of patients remains non-responder to standard therapy. The pathogenesis of EoE is multifactorial and results from the complex, still mostly undefined, interaction between genetics and intrinsic factors, environment, and antigenic stimuli. A deep understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease is pivotal for the development of new therapies. This review provides a comprehensive description of the pathophysiology of EoE, starting from major pathogenic mechanisms (genetics, type 2 inflammation, epithelial barrier dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux, allergens, infections and microbiota) and subsequently focusing on the single protagonists of type 2 inflammation (involved cells, cytokines, soluble effectors, surface proteins and transcription factors) that could represent present and future therapeutic targets, while summarizing previous therapeutic approaches in literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Racca
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- *Correspondence: Francesca Racca,
| | - Gaia Pellegatta
- Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cataldo
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Edoardo Vespa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Elisa Carlani
- Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Corrado Pelaia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Paoletti
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Messina
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nappi
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
| | - Giorgio Walter Canonica
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
| | - Alessandro Repici
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Enrico Heffler
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
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De Matteis A, Pagliaro G, Corleto VD, Pacchiarotti C, Di Giulio E, Villa MP, Parisi P, Vassallo F, Ziparo C, Di Nardo G. Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children: Clinical Findings and Diagnostic Approach. Curr Pediatr Rev 2020; 16:206-214. [PMID: 31584371 PMCID: PMC8193808 DOI: 10.2174/1573396315666191004110549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an emerging chronic immune and antigen-mediated clinicopathologic disease. During the last 2 decades, the incidence of this condition in children has increased significantly, thanks to practitioners for creating the awareness and higher use of diagnostic endoscopy. We have analysed paediatric literature on EoE focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical findings and diagnostic approach. EoE is pathogenically related to a Th2 inflammation characterized by a mixed IgE and non-IgEmediated reaction to food and/or environmental agents. This leads to esophageal dysfunction and remodeling accompanied by subepithelial fibrosis. EoE can be presented with several range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including regurgitation, vomiting, feeding difficulties or feeding refusal in infants and toddlers, as well as heartburn, dysphagia and food bolus impaction in older children and adults. The diagnostic suspicion is based on the presence of chronic symptoms of esophgeal dysfunction and esophageal eosinophilia characterised histologically by a significant eosinophilic infiltration of the oesophageal mucosa (>15 eosinophils per high powered field). In this review, we will provide an update on clinical presentation and diagnostic approach to EoE in children. We emphasized on the relevant aspects of the new clinical condition termed "PPI responsive esophageal eosinophilia", as entities distinct from EoE and the role of PPI trial in the diagnostic workup, therefore we proposed a new diagnostic algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Giovanni Di Nardo
- Address correspondence to this author at the Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant’Andrea University Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 - Rome, Italy; Tel: +393397267637; E-mail:
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Avinashi V, Chan JM, Bush JW, Vallance BA, Yang H, Portales-Casamar E, Soller L, Mill C, Chan ES. Poor Correlation of Oral Swabs with Esophageal Eosinophil Counts. Dysphagia 2019; 35:773-779. [PMID: 31773332 DOI: 10.1007/s00455-019-10082-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic condition that requires repeated endoscopies/biopsies to track the disease and treatment response. This invasive procedure involves risk to the patient and has significant costs. We studied whether the detection of specific proteins (cytokines and eosinophil degranulation products) from oral swabs could serve as a minimally invasive test for EoE. Swabs of the oral cavity (buccal and oropharyngeal) were obtained prior to endoscopy/biopsies in patients with EoE, possible EoE, and non-EoE patients in addition to obtaining additional esophageal biopsy tissue. ELISAs measuring the levels of cytokines IL-5, IL-8, IL-13, and eosinophil degranulation products including major basic protein (MBP), eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN), and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) were performed on the samples. Comparisons were made to peak esophageal eosinophil counts. Tolerability of the swabs was evaluated. 43 patients, 4-17 years old, participated in the study. Swabs were well tolerated and all showed measurable protein. 26 patients had EoE [14 active (> 15 eosinophils/high power field), 12 non-active], 17 patients did not have EoE. Results obtained from oral swabs showed poor correlation with those from esophageal tissue. Only measurement of eosinophil degranulation products EDN and EPO from esophageal tissues showed strong correlations with eosinophil counts. In this study, the levels of cytokines and eosinophil degranulation products detected from oral swabs did not correlate with esophageal eosinophilia, and their detection would be insufficient to displace endoscopy/biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Avinashi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, and University of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V63V4, Canada.
| | - Justin M Chan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, and University of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V63V4, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Bush
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Children's Hospital, and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Bruce A Vallance
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, and University of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V63V4, Canada
| | - Hyungjun Yang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, and University of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V63V4, Canada
| | - Elodie Portales-Casamar
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Lianne Soller
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Christopher Mill
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Edmond S Chan
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Clayton F, Peterson K. Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Pathophysiology and Definition. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am 2018; 28:1-14. [PMID: 29129294 DOI: 10.1016/j.giec.2017.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Eosinophilic esophagitis is an adaptive immune response to patient-specific antigens, mostly foods. Eosinophilic esophagitis is not solely IgE-mediated and is likely characterized by Th2 lymphocytes with an impaired esophageal barrier function. The key cytokines and chemokines are thymic stromal lymphopoeitin, interleukin-13, CCL26/eotaxin-3, and transforming growth factor-β, all involved in eosinophil recruitment and remodeling. Chronic food dysphagia and food impactions, the feared late complications, are related in part to dense subepithelial fibrosis, likely induced by interleukin-13 and transforming growth factor-β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Clayton
- Department of Pathology, The University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Hospital, 1950 Circle of Hope, Room N3100, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kathryn Peterson
- Division of Gastroenterology, The University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East SOM 4R118, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
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