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Lymphocytic Oesophagitis Preliminary Ultrastructural Observations.
Carlos A Rubio1, Elisabeth Villnow2, Peter T Schmidt3
1Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Carlos.Rubio@ki.se.
Anticancer Research
|April 30, 2016
Summary
Lymphocytic oesophagitis (LyE) shows significant ultrastructural damage in esophageal cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes. These changes, including cell disintegration and edema, are linked to intercellular fluid accumulation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Lymphocytic oesophagitis (LyE) is defined by a high count of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the esophageal epithelium (≥40 CD3+IELs/HPF).
- The underlying ultrastructural changes in LyE are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural alterations in LyE using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Main Methods:
- Esophageal biopsies from seven patients were analyzed.
- Included were four LyE cases, one reflux oesophagitis, one eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE), and one normal control.
Main Results:
- LyE exhibited marked intercellular edema (spongiosis) and regressive changes in squamous cells, including cytoplasmic edema, vacuolization, and cell disintegration.
- Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) also displayed regressive changes, such as ballooning and intracytoplasmic disintegration.
Conclusions:
- Spongiosis in LyE may impair cell nutrition and introduce noxious molecules, contributing to observed TEM alterations.
- These findings offer novel insights into the ultrastructural pathology of LyE in both squamous cells and IELs.
