BACKGROUND: Visceral hypersensitivity is an important etiology of non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) are involved in the sensitization of afferent neuronal pathways. AIM: The objectives of this study were to evaluate visceral hypersensitivity in NERD patients, investigate the association between visceral hypersensitivity and mucosal expression of SP and CGRP, and assess their involvement in the pathogenesis of NERD. METHODS: Twenty-six NERD patients and 12 healthy volunteers were recruited. Intraesophageal balloon distention was performed, and initial perception threshold (IPT) and threshold of discomfort (ToD) were determined. Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the optical density (OD) of CGRP and SP-reactive levels in esophageal mucosa, and the numbers of CGRP and SP-reactive neural fibers. RESULTS: IPT and ToD were 9.6 ± 4.8 and 12.3 ± 3.2 ml, respectively, in NERD patients, significantly lower than for controls (13.2 ± 7.5 and 21.6 ± 5.7 ml, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Mean OD values for CGRP and SP staining were significantly higher in NERD than for controls (both P < 0.05) and, in NERD, were negatively correlated with IPT and ToD (all P < 0.01). Numbers of CGRP and SP-reactive neural fibers in esophageal submucosa of NERD patients were significantly increased (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Expression of esophageal epithelial CGRP and SP is increased, and correlates negatively with perception thresholds in NERD. These findings may aid understanding of peripheral visceral hypersensitivity and the development of new therapeutic approaches for management of NERD.
BACKGROUND: Visceral hypersensitivity is an important etiology of non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) are involved in the sensitization of afferent neuronal pathways. AIM: The objectives of this study were to evaluate visceral hypersensitivity in NERD patients, investigate the association between visceral hypersensitivity and mucosal expression of SP and CGRP, and assess their involvement in the pathogenesis of NERD. METHODS: Twenty-six NERD patients and 12 healthy volunteers were recruited. Intraesophageal balloon distention was performed, and initial perception threshold (IPT) and threshold of discomfort (ToD) were determined. Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the optical density (OD) of CGRP and SP-reactive levels in esophageal mucosa, and the numbers of CGRP and SP-reactive neural fibers. RESULTS:IPT and ToD were 9.6 ± 4.8 and 12.3 ± 3.2 ml, respectively, in NERD patients, significantly lower than for controls (13.2 ± 7.5 and 21.6 ± 5.7 ml, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Mean OD values for CGRP and SP staining were significantly higher in NERD than for controls (both P < 0.05) and, in NERD, were negatively correlated with IPT and ToD (all P < 0.01). Numbers of CGRP and SP-reactive neural fibers in esophageal submucosa of NERD patients were significantly increased (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Expression of esophageal epithelial CGRP and SP is increased, and correlates negatively with perception thresholds in NERD. These findings may aid understanding of peripheral visceral hypersensitivity and the development of new therapeutic approaches for management of NERD.
Authors: H Miwa; T Minoo; M Hojo; R Yaginuma; A Nagahara; M Kawabe; A Ohkawa; D Asaoka; A Kurosawa; T Ohkusa; N Sato Journal: Aliment Pharmacol Ther Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 8.171
Authors: Sanchoy Sarkar; David G Thompson; Clifford J Woolf; Anthony R Hobson; Teri Millane; Qasim Aziz Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: Nicolaas F Rinsma; Ricard Farré; Fred J Troost; Montserrat Elizalde; Daniel Keszthelyi; Zsuzsanna Helyes; Ad A Masclee; José M Conchillo Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2017-05-19 Impact factor: 5.923