Abstract
Background: We previously reported a novel histological phenotype of chronic esophagitis, lymphocytic esophagitis, in patients without gastroesophageal reflux. The aim of the present study was to explore the possible occurrence of lymphocytic esophagitis in baboons. Materials and Methods: Filed hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections from the esophagi of 103 consecutive baboons were reviewed. Lymphocytic esophagitis is characterized by high numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) gathered mainly around papillary areas and by none to occasional CD15+ intraepithelial granulocytes. Results: Forty-five of the 103 baboons (43.7%) had lymphocytic esophagitis. A mean of 52 IELs/high-power field were found around the papillae. Immunostains showed that the IEL population in lymphocytic esophagitis was composed of T-cells, a subset of natural killer cells and of helper and inflammatory T-cells. Conclusion: Since lymphocytic esophagitis is by far much more frequent in baboons than in humans, the baboon emerges as a good animal model to study the etiology of this inflammatory disease in humans.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 613-616 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | In Vivo |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Baboons
- Esophagus
- Inflammation
- Lymphocytes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Pharmacology