Korean J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2007 Jun;13(1):21-25.

Mucin Gene Expression and Cell proliferation in the Columnar Epithelium-lined Mucosa of Distal Esophagus

• Choi SC
• Kim YS
• Kim KH
• Kim HS
• Jo HJ
• Yun KJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Barrett's esophagus is characterized by the presence of metaplastic columnar epithelium with goblet cells in the distal esophagus. Barrett's esophagus progresses through low grade dysplasia and high grade dysplasia to adenocarcinoma. We studied the patient age, the mucin gene and the proliferation activity of biopsy-proven Barrett's esophagus and simple columnar epithelium-lined esophagus.
METHODS
To evaluate the mucin gene expression and proliferation activity, twenty five cases of Barrett's esophagus and thirty cases of control esophagus were examined immunohistochemically with using the monoclonal antibodies to MUC1, MUC2 and Ki-67.
RESULTS
The Barrett's esophagus patients were older (mean: 65.3+/-10.1 years) than the control patients (mean: 53.0+/-14.8 years). The MUC1 expression was 100% in both Barrett's esophagus and the control esophagus. An MUC2 expression was observed in 92.0% of the Barrett's esophagus and 20.0% of the control esophagus. The rate and intensity of the Ki-67 expression was higher in the Barrett's esophagus (80.0%, 1.20+/-0.76) than that in the control esophagus (70.0%, 0.77+/-0.57).
CONCLUSIONS
Barrett's esophagus is a metaplastic lesion due to the more long-standing gastroesophageal reflux than that in a simple columnar epithelium-lined esophagus. The cause of increased proliferation activity in Barrett's esophagus may be related to the MUC2 expression.

Keyword

Barrett's esophagus; Age; MUC-1; MUC-2; Ki-67

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Barrett Esophagus
Cell Proliferation*
Epithelium
Esophagus*
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Gene Expression*
Goblet Cells
Humans
Mucins*
Mucous Membrane*
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Mucins