Abstract：
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a type 2 helper T-cell (Th2)-mediated allergic disease that involves mast cells. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between perception of symptoms and mast cell levels in patients with EoE.
We enrolled patients with asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia (aEE) and those with symptomatic EoE. Immunofluorescence staining was performed on esophageal biopsy specimens to quantify mast cell-related molecules, such as tryptase, proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)-2, and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor (VPAC)-1.
We evaluated 28 and 58 patients with aEE and EoE, respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical and endoscopic features and peak eosinophil counts between both groups. Mast cell tryptase-positive areas were significantly higher in EoE than in aEE (4.9 [3.5-6.2] vs. 2.0 [1.2-3.4] %, p < 0.01). The number of PAR-2-positive cells was significantly higher in EoE than in aEE (14 [8.8-20.0] vs. 4 [2.8-8.0] cells/high-power field [HPF], p < 0.01). The number of VPAC-1-positive cells was significantly higher in the EoE group than in the aEE group (13 [8.8-16.0] vs. 6 [3.0-9.3] cells/HPF, p < 0.01). A positive correlation was observed between the numbers of PAR-2-positive cells and VPAC-1-positive cells (r = 0.851, p < 0.01). Moreover, mast cell tryptase-positive areas positively correlated with the number of PAR-2- and VPAC-1-positive cells (r = 0.352, p < 0.01; r = 0.355, p < 0.01, respectively).
Esophageal mast cells and their receptors, PAR-2 and VPAC-1, may contribute to the perception of symptoms in patients with EoE.
We enrolled patients with asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia (aEE) and those with symptomatic EoE. Immunofluorescence staining was performed on esophageal biopsy specimens to quantify mast cell-related molecules, such as tryptase, proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)-2, and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor (VPAC)-1.
We evaluated 28 and 58 patients with aEE and EoE, respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical and endoscopic features and peak eosinophil counts between both groups. Mast cell tryptase-positive areas were significantly higher in EoE than in aEE (4.9 [3.5-6.2] vs. 2.0 [1.2-3.4] %, p < 0.01). The number of PAR-2-positive cells was significantly higher in EoE than in aEE (14 [8.8-20.0] vs. 4 [2.8-8.0] cells/high-power field [HPF], p < 0.01). The number of VPAC-1-positive cells was significantly higher in the EoE group than in the aEE group (13 [8.8-16.0] vs. 6 [3.0-9.3] cells/HPF, p < 0.01). A positive correlation was observed between the numbers of PAR-2-positive cells and VPAC-1-positive cells (r = 0.851, p < 0.01). Moreover, mast cell tryptase-positive areas positively correlated with the number of PAR-2- and VPAC-1-positive cells (r = 0.352, p < 0.01; r = 0.355, p < 0.01, respectively).
Esophageal mast cells and their receptors, PAR-2 and VPAC-1, may contribute to the perception of symptoms in patients with EoE.
摘要：
背景：嗜酸性粒细胞性食管炎（EoE）是一种2型辅助性T细胞（Th2）介导的过敏性疾病，涉及肥大细胞。这项研究旨在阐明EoE患者对症状的感知与肥大细胞水平之间的关系。
方法：我们招募了无症状食管嗜酸性粒细胞增多症（aEE）和有症状EoE的患者。对食管活检标本进行免疫荧光染色以定量肥大细胞相关分子，比如类胰蛋白酶，蛋白酶激活受体（PAR）-2和血管活性肠肽受体（VPAC）-1。
结果：我们评估了28和58例aEE和EoE患者，分别。两组之间的临床和内镜特征以及嗜酸性粒细胞峰值计数没有显着差异。EoE中肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶阳性区域明显高于aEE（4.9[3.5-6.2]vs.2.0[1.2-3.4]%，p<0.01)。EoE中PAR-2阳性细胞数明显高于aEE（14[8.8-20.0]vs.4[2.8-8.0]单元/高功率场[HPF]，p<0.01)。EoE组VPAC-1阳性细胞数明显高于aEE组（13[8.8-16.0]vs.6[3.0-9.3]个细胞/HPF，p<0.01)。PAR-2阳性细胞数与VPAC-1阳性细胞数呈正相关(r=0.851,p<0.01)。此外，肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶阳性面积与PAR-2和VPAC-1阳性细胞数呈正相关（r=0.352，p<0.01；r=0.355，p<0.01）。
结论：食管肥大细胞及其受体，PAR-2和VPAC-1可能有助于EoE患者对症状的感知。
方法：我们招募了无症状食管嗜酸性粒细胞增多症（aEE）和有症状EoE的患者。对食管活检标本进行免疫荧光染色以定量肥大细胞相关分子，比如类胰蛋白酶，蛋白酶激活受体（PAR）-2和血管活性肠肽受体（VPAC）-1。
结果：我们评估了28和58例aEE和EoE患者，分别。两组之间的临床和内镜特征以及嗜酸性粒细胞峰值计数没有显着差异。EoE中肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶阳性区域明显高于aEE（4.9[3.5-6.2]vs.2.0[1.2-3.4]%，p<0.01)。EoE中PAR-2阳性细胞数明显高于aEE（14[8.8-20.0]vs.4[2.8-8.0]单元/高功率场[HPF]，p<0.01)。EoE组VPAC-1阳性细胞数明显高于aEE组（13[8.8-16.0]vs.6[3.0-9.3]个细胞/HPF，p<0.01)。PAR-2阳性细胞数与VPAC-1阳性细胞数呈正相关(r=0.851,p<0.01)。此外，肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶阳性面积与PAR-2和VPAC-1阳性细胞数呈正相关（r=0.352，p<0.01；r=0.355，p<0.01）。
结论：食管肥大细胞及其受体，PAR-2和VPAC-1可能有助于EoE患者对症状的感知。
