Study on the pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus based on stem cell biopsy

我们研究了Barrett食管的发病机制，重点是细胞起源和原始细胞的异常分化。食管成纤维细胞，当暴露于酸性胃内容物时，分泌各种生长因子和细胞因子。特别是这些酸暴露的成纤维细胞产生的HB-EGF通过诱导Cdx2表达诱导未成熟食管鳞状细胞向肠型柱状细胞的异常分化。此外，暴露于胆汁酸的鳞状上皮细胞通过Cdx1和Cdx2的相互作用开始向柱状上皮细胞分化。

We have investigated the pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus focusing on the cellular origin and abnormal differentiation of the original cells. Esophageal fibroblasts, when exposed to acidic gastric contents, secrete various growth factors and cytokines. Especially HB-EGF produced by these acid exposed fibroblasts induced abnormal differentiation of immature esophageal squamous cells to intestinal type columnar cells by inducing Cdx2 expression. Furthermore squamous epithelial cells exposed to bile acids started to differentiate to columnar epithelial cells by the mutual interaction of Cdx1 and Cdx2.