Eosinophilic esophagitis: epithelial mesenchymal transition contributes to esophageal remodeling and reverses with treatment.

Background: Mechanisms underlying esophageal remodeling with subepithelial fibrosis in subjects with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) have not been delineated.

Objectives: We sought to explore a role for epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in subjects with EoE and determine whether EMT resolves with treatment.

Methods: Esophageal biopsy specimens from 60 children were immunostained for epithelial (cytokeratin) and mesenchymal (vimentin) EMT biomarkers, and EMT was quantified.