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

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.