AIM: Immune factors, especially mast cells and eosinophils, play an important role in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia. However, the role of these cells in the duodenum has not been fully understood in patients with functional dyspepsia. We aimed to investigate the infiltration and activation of mast cells and eosinophils in the duodena of subjects with functional dyspepsia. METHODS: Duodenal biopsies obtained in 48 patients with functional dyspepsia and 21 healthy volunteers were collected for the study. Eosinophils in the bulb (D1) and the descending part (D2) of the duodenum were identified and counted by hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining. Major basic protein immunostaining was used to evaluate eosinophil degranulation, as well as mast cells and mast cell degranulation was identified by toluidine blue staining. RESULTS: In the D2 area, compared to controls, functional dyspepsia patients showed a marked increase in eosinophil cell numbers (p=0.008) and eosinophil degranulation rate (p=0.005). Mast cell numbers were significantly increased in patients compared with controls in the D1 (p=0.002) and D2 areas (p less than 0.001), and the degranulation rates of mast cells were significantly increased in functional dyspepsia patients in the D1 (p=0.028) and D2 areas (p=0.044). CONCLUSION: Duodenal eosinophils and mast cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia.
AIM: Immune factors, especially mast cells and eosinophils, play an important role in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia. However, the role of these cells in the duodenum has not been fully understood in patients with functional dyspepsia. We aimed to investigate the infiltration and activation of mast cells and eosinophils in the duodena of subjects with functional dyspepsia. METHODS: Duodenal biopsies obtained in 48 patients with functional dyspepsia and 21 healthy volunteers were collected for the study. Eosinophils in the bulb (D1) and the descending part (D2) of the duodenum were identified and counted by hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining. Major basic protein immunostaining was used to evaluate eosinophil degranulation, as well as mast cells and mast cell degranulation was identified by toluidine blue staining. RESULTS: In the D2 area, compared to controls, functional dyspepsiapatients showed a marked increase in eosinophil cell numbers (p=0.008) and eosinophil degranulation rate (p=0.005). Mast cell numbers were significantly increased in patients compared with controls in the D1 (p=0.002) and D2 areas (p less than 0.001), and the degranulation rates of mast cells were significantly increased in functional dyspepsiapatients in the D1 (p=0.028) and D2 areas (p=0.044). CONCLUSION: Duodenal eosinophils and mast cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia.