Characterization of lamina propria remodeling in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis using second harmonic generation microscopy

Abstract Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by an intense infiltration of eosinophils into the esophageal epithelium. When not adequately controlled, eosinophilic inflammation can lead to changes in components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the lamina propria. Particularly, alterations to the collagen fiber matrix can lead to lamina propria fibrosis (LPF), which plays an important role in the fibrostenotic complications of EoE. Current approaches to assess LPF in EoE are prone to inter-observer inconsistencies and provide limited insight into the structural remodeling of the ECM. An objective approach to quantify LPF can eliminate inter-observer inconsistencies and provide novel insights into the fibrotic transformation of the lamina propria in EoE. Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy is a powerful modality for objectively quantifying disease associated alterations in ECM collagen structure that is finding increasing use for clinical research. We used SHG with morphometric analysis (SHG-MA) to characterize lamina propria collagen fibers and ECM porosity in esophageal biopsies collected from children with active EoE (n = 11), inactive EoE (n = 11), and non-EoE (n = 11). The collagen fiber width quantified by SHG-MA correlated positively with peak eosinophil count (r = 0.65, p < 0.005) and histopathologist scoring of LPF (r = 0.52, p < 0.005) in the esophageal biopsies. Patients with active EoE had a significant enlargement of ECM pores compared to inactive EoE and non-EoE (p < 0.005), with the mean pore area correlating positively with EoE activity (r = 0.76, p < 0.005) and LPF severity (r = 0.65, p < 0.005). These results indicate that SHG-MA can be utilized to objectively characterize and provide novel insights into lamina propria ECM structural remodeling in children with EoE, which could aid in monitoring disease progression..

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:9

Enthalten in:

Translational medicine communications - 9(2024), 1 vom: 22. März

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Haugen, Ezekiel J. [VerfasserIn]
Locke, Andrea K. [VerfasserIn]
Correa, Hernán [VerfasserIn]
Baba, Justin S. [VerfasserIn]
Mahadevan-Jansen, Anita [VerfasserIn]
Hiremath, Girish [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext [kostenfrei]

Themen:

Eosinophilic esophagitis
Extracellular matrix
Fibrosis
Histopathology
Multiphoton Imaging
Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy

Anmerkungen:

© The Author(s) 2024

doi:

10.1186/s41231-024-00170-2

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

SPR055260357