Expression and clinical significance of interleukins in different subtypes of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Objective To investigate the expression of IL-4, IL-6 in Barrett esophagus (BE), erosive esophagitis (EE) and nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) and the role they played in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods Patients of BE, EE, NERD and control group were carefully selected according to the results of GERD Questionnaire and endoscopy. 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring was used to estimate the GERD patients' esophageal acid exposure. Esophageal biopsies taken at endoscopy in all four groups were observed in microscopy for histopathology, and tested by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for cytokines IL-4 and IL-6. Results In the 24 h pH monitoring, DeMeester score showed no significant differences in three GERD subtype groups (P>0.05), neither were the results of 4 0.05). The expression of IL-6 in the esophagus of NERD group and the control was significantly low or not even detected, but was markedly higher in the EE group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Histological inflammation level of GERD esophageal mucosal epithelium is increased with the deterioration of esophagitis. Rather than IL-4, IL-6 is more significantly expressed in esophagus between different subtypes of GERD. Key words: Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Nonerosive reflux disease; Barrett esophagus; Interleukin-4; Interleukin-6