Differential Contributions of Fibroblast Subpopulations to Intercellular Communication in Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Fibroblast heterogeneity remains undefined in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an allergic inflammatory disorder complicated by fibrosis. We utilized publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data (GSE201153) of EoE esophageal biopsies to identify fibroblast sub-populations, related transcriptomes, disease status-specific pathways and cell-cell interactions. IL13-treated fibroblast cultures were used to model active disease.

Direct and indirect effects of alcohol and its toxic metabolite acetaldehyde on human esophageal myofibroblasts and epithelial cells.

Background: Mechanisms by which alcohol increases the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remain undefined. Human esophageal myofibroblasts (HEMFs) subjacent to the squamous epithelium are exposed directly to these agents via epithelial barrier defects and indirectly via factors derived from the exposed epithelium. Our aim was to investigate the cellular biology of HEMFs and HEMF-esophageal epithelial cell interactions in response to alcohol and its toxic metabolite acetaldehyde.

Inflammatory and Proliferative Pathway Activation in Human Esophageal Myofibroblasts Treated with Acidic Bile Salts.

Subepithelial human esophageal myofibroblasts (HEMFs) in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are exposed to luminal contents via impaired squamous epithelium barrier integrity. The supernatant of HEMFs treated with acidic bile salts reflective of in vivo reflux increases squamous epithelial thickness. We aimed to identify the involved mechanisms using an unbiased approach.