Assessment and diagnostic utility of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte phenotype using the specific markers @entity10807 and XXXX in esophageal mucosal biopsies.

@entity1 @entity10807 @entity2910 @entity1373 @entity13433 @entity354 @entity1282 @entity2210 @entity405
Most esophageal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) express T-cell markers. Increased numbers of esophageal IELs have been shown in @entity354 . The cytotoxic potential and activity of esophageal IELs have not as yet been examined. Our objectives were to determine whether esophageal IELs express the recently described cytotoxic T-cell (CTLs) markers, @entity13433 and @entity10807 , and whether the number of CTLs correlates with well-defined endoscopic, clinical, and histological features of @entity2910 . In this study, most CD-3+ esophageal IELs exhibit the @entity405 +/ @entity13433 + T cell with cytotoxic potential phenotype in both histologically normal biopsy specimens and in biopsy specimens with @entity2910 . A subpopulation of esophageal IELs that express cytotoxic activity was identified by @entity10807 immunostaining. A significant positive association was found between the number of esophageal IELs seen by light microscopy in biopsy specimens with histological features of reflux (21 IELs/HPF) and @entity2910 (31 IELs/HPF) as compared with normal-appearing biopsy specimens (10 IELs/HPF) (P< or =.05). Furthermore, the number of @entity13433 or @entity10807 -positive IELs were significantly increased in biopsy specimens with @entity354 (34 and 15 cells/HPF) and @entity2910 (44 and 18 cells/HPF) as compared with normal (11 and 2 cells/HPF) (P< or =.05). @entity10807 and CD-3-positive IELs were also significantly elevated in biopsy specimens with reflux-associated @entity1373 (P< or =.05). Finally, biopsy specimens of @entity1 with @entity1282 and to a lesser extent @entity2210 /heartburn exhibited increased numbers of IELs bearing the cytotoxic phenotype when compared with asymptomatic @entity1 . In conclusion, we provide immunohistochemical evidence that most esophageal IELs exhibit the cytotoxic phenotype and that activated cytotoxic IELs are increased in reflux and @entity2910 .
