Esophageal epithelial cells acquire functional characteristics of activated myofibroblasts after undergoing an epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

Background And Aims: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an allergic inflammatory disease that leads to esophageal fibrosis and stricture. We have recently shown that in EoE, esophageal epithelial cells undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), characterized by gain of mesenchymal markers and loss of epithelial gene expression. Whether epithelial cells exposed to profibrotic cytokines can also acquire the functional characteristics of activated myofibroblasts, including migration, contraction, and extracellular matrix deposition, is relevant to our understanding and treatment of EoE-associated fibrogenesis.

Fractal and image analysis of the microvasculature in normal intestinal submucosa and intestinal polyps in Apc(Min/+) mice.

Tumors are supported by the development of a unique vascular bed. We used fractal dimension (Db) and image analysis to quantify differences in the complexity of the vasculature in normal intestinal submucosa and intestinal polyps. Apc(Min/+) mice and wild-type mice were perfused with a curable latex compound, intestines sectioned, and images collected via confocal microscopy.