ABSTRACT
The esophageal epithelium of vertebrates was studied in phylogenetic aspect and in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). The comparative investigation was undertaken to detect phylogenetic recapitulations in the course of BE development. The complex of histochemical methods for selective demonstration of mucins and proteins was used. It was shown that in the phylogenetic series amphibians-reptiles-mammals, the formation of a protective barrier occurred in different ways. In BE, within the areas of metaplasia and dysplasia, partial recapitulation of a histochemical type of protective barrier, peculiar to the esophagus of amphibians and reptiles, seems to take place.
Subject(s)
Barrett Esophagus/pathology , Esophagus/pathology , Phylogeny , Animals , Anura , Barrett Esophagus/metabolism , Epithelium/metabolism , Epithelium/pathology , Esophagus/metabolism , Humans , Mucins/metabolism , Reptiles , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Current views on the protective function of the gastrointestinal barrier are based on the capacity of its surface and glandular epitheliocytes to synthesize the mucins. The most significant types of gel-forming mucins are MUC 5AC, MUC 5B, MUC 6 and MUC 2. The type of the mucin is cell-specific and is determined by the character of cell phenotype. The change of the mucin type may be the major factor in the development of pathology. The protective mucin function is realized with the participation of trefoil peptides. The problem of the mechanism of mucin-trefoil peptide macromolecular complex formation in normal and pathological states is discussed.
