Acid Exposure of BE Cells and Risk for Dysplasia

Acid seems to induce different behaviors in nonneoplastic BE cells than it does in esophageal adenocarcinoma cells.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett esophagus are identifiable risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma. In a recent report, researchers noted that pulsed-acid exposure facilitates expression of NOX5, which is an NADPH-oxidase catalytic subunit and a major isoform of the NADPH-oxidase that is present in BE esophageal adenocarcinoma cells and tissues with high-grade dysplasia (Journal Watch Gastroenterology Dec 1 2006). Furthermore, in that study, the levels of acid-induced NOX5 expression were significantly lower at pH 7.2 than at pH 4.0 (P<0.0l). Other in vitro studies have suggested that acid exposure induces changes in proliferative patterns, cellular differentiation, and upregulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression (all o…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD