Barrett's metaplasia: molecular mechanisms and nutritional influences.

نویسندگان

  • Jonathan M W Slack
  • Benjamin J Colleypriest
  • Jonathan M Quinlan
  • Wei-Yuan Yu
  • Mark J Farrant
  • David Tosh
چکیده

Barrett's metaplasia is discussed in the context of a general theory for the formation of metaplasias based on developmental biology. The phenotype of a particular tissue type becomes established during embryonic development by the expression of a specific set of transcription factors. If this combination becomes altered, then the tissue type can be altered. Such events may occur by mutation or by environmental effects on gene expression, normally within the stem cell population of the tissue. A macroscopic patch of metaplastic tissue will arise only if the new gene activity state is self-sustaining in the absence of its original causes, and if the new tissue type can outgrow the parent tissue type. An important candidate gene for the causation of Barrett's metaplasia is Cdx2 (Caudal-type homeobox 2). In normal development, this is expressed in the future intestine, but not the future foregut. Mouse knockout studies have shown that it is needed for intestinal development, and that its loss from adult intestine can lead to squamous transformations. It is also expressed in Barrett's metaplasia and can be activated in oesophageal cell cultures by treatment with bile acids. We have investigated the ability of Cdx2 to bring about intestinal transformations in oesophageal epithelium. Our results show that Cdx2 can activate a programme of intestinal gene expression when overexpressed in HET-1A cells, or in fetal epithelium, but not in the adult epithelium. This suggests that Cdx2, although necessary for formation of intestinal tissue, is not sufficient to provoke Barrett's metaplasia in adult life and that overexpression of additional transcription factors is necessary. In terms of diet and nutrition, there is a known association of Barrett's metaplasia with obesity. This may work through an increased risk of gastro-oesophageal reflux. Acid and bile are known to activate Cdx2 expression in oesophageal cells. It may also increase circulating levels of TNFalpha (tumour necrosis factor alpha), which activates Cdx2. In addition, there may be effects of diet on the composition of the bile.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Induction of glutathione s-transferase-pi in Barrett's metaplasia and Barrett's adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Barrett's metaplasia consists of columnar epithelium that replaces the normal esophageal mucosa in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux. Because intestinal-type Barrett's metaplasia is the major risk factor for adenocarcinoma development, understanding the mechanisms that predispose the esophageal mucosa to malignant degeneration is clinically important. Glutathione s-transferase (GST)...

متن کامل

The role of Cdx2 in Barrett's metaplasia.

Metaplasia (or transdifferentiation) is defined as the transformation of one tissue type to another. Clues to the molecular mechanisms that control the development of metaplasia are implied from knowledge of the transcription factors that specify tissue identity during normal embryonic development. Barrett's metaplasia describes the development of a columnar/intestinal phenotype in the squamous...

متن کامل

Distal chromosome 17q loss in Barrett's esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas: implications for tumorigenesis.

The molecular genetic mechanisms underlying esophageal cancer are poorly understood. However, a novel gene that may be involved in esophageal carcinogenesis was recently localized by others to distal 17q by linkage analysis of kindreds with palmoplantar keratoderma and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. To help determine whether a distal 17q gene may also be involved in the pathogenesis ...

متن کامل

Acid, bile, and CDX: the ABCs of making Barrett's metaplasia.

Barrett's esophagus, a squamous-to-columnar cell metaplasia that develops as a result of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. The molecular events underlying the pathogenesis of Barrett's metaplasia are poorly understood, but recent studies suggest that interactions among developmental signaling pathways, morphogenetic factors, and Caud...

متن کامل

In Barrett's esophagus patients and Barrett's cell lines, ursodeoxycholic acid increases antioxidant expression and prevents DNA damage by bile acids.

Hydrophobic bile acids like deoxycholic acid (DCA), which cause oxidative DNA damage and activate NF-κB in Barrett's metaplasia, might contribute to carcinogenesis in Barrett's esophagus. We have explored mechanisms whereby ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, a hydrophilic bile acid) protects against DCA-induced injury in vivo in patients and in vitro using nonneoplastic, telomerase-immortalized Barret...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:
  • Biochemical Society transactions

دوره 38 2  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2010