Esophagitis pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Pathophysiology

Normal physiology of the food motility through the esophagus

• The esophagus is a part of the gastrointestinal tract which is responsible of moving the food from the mouth to the rectum.
• The esophagus has anti-reflux barrier which prevents the return of the acidic contentof the stomach back to the esophagus. The anti-reflux barrier consists of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the related part of the diaphragm.
• The lower esophageal sphincter is contracting smooth muscle at the end of the esophagus responsible for the food passage to the stomach. LES has high pressure tone which helps keeping it a strong barrier between the esophagus and the stomach.

Reflux Esophagitis

• Pathogenesis of GERD depends on various mechanisms that lead to the reflux of the gastric acidic contents into the esophagus.
• Several mechanisms impair the anti-reflux barrier and cause esophageal dysmotility. These mechanisms include the following:
  • Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations
  • Hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter
  • Hiatus hernia
  • Impaired esophageal acid clearance
  • Delayed gastric emptying

Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations

• Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations is considered the main mechanism of GERD development in most of the patients. It occurs alongside a normal LES and more common with obesity.
• Distension of the stomach worsens the case of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. The diaphragm is also affected by the sphincter relaxation leading to diaphragm inhibition.

• Some of the GERD patients have hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter which leads to retrograde movement of the gastric content into the esophagus.

Hiatal hernia

• A hiatal hernia occurs as part of the stomach is dislocated into the chest. This dislocation leads to placement of the LES above the diaphragm impairing the acid clearance.
• Increase the exposure of the lower esophagus due to a hiatal hernia plays a big role in the pathogenesis of GERD.

Impaired mucosal resistance

• The esophagus has pre-epithelial and epithelial defensive mechanisms against the acidic components that can lead to esophageal injury. However, these defensive mechanisms are limited and weak to stand against injury in case of excessive acid exposure.
• In case of an excessive increase of the noxious agents more than the ability of the mucosal defensive mechanism to eliminate them, mucosal injury occurs and GERD develops.
• The gastric acid leads to erosion of the esophageal mucosa and destruction of the intercellular junctions which leads to increase cellular permeability. The increase in the cellular permeability is proved by the dilation of the intercellular spaces and explains the typical symptoms (e.g, heartburn) of GERD.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis

• The pathophysiology of the EoE is as follows:
• Eosinophilic esophagitis is an immunoallergic disorder resulting from the interaction between genetics and environmental triggers such as repeated exposure to food and aeroallergens.

• Patients presenting with EoE have a history of:
  • Elevated serum IgE levels
  • Response to interventions such as diet restriction
  • History of food hypersensitivity

• Eosinophils originate from CD34+ myeloid precursor cells in the bone marrow, mature to a granulated state and migrate to the vascular spaces.
• The eosinophils are absent in an otherwise normal esophagus, the presence of the eosinophils in the esophagus suggests GERD or EoE.
• They tend to be present in all layers of the esophagus in EoE, but predominate in the lamina propria and submucosal regions.
• The documented cytokine expression profile in the esophageal tissue of patients is that of a TH2 inflammatory response.
• IL-5 and IL-13 are produced by the type-2 helper T cells (Th2) in response to the antigenic proteins from the food or inhalation.
• IL-13 further stimulates the epithelial cells of the esophagus to produce large proteins to induce a gene called eotaxin-3, which in turn recruits eosinophils from the peripheral blood into the tissue.
• IL-5 prolongs the survival of the eosinophils.
• The activated TH2 response leads to the recruitment and activation of
  • Eosinophils
  • Mast cells
• Mast cells degranulate and cause tissue damage and repair.
• Cytokines produced by TH-1 cells are
  • Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α
  • Interferon (IFN)-γ
• TNF-α is expressed by the epithelial cells of the esophagus whereas INF-γ is upregulated by the peripheral T cells.
• Delayed or type- IV hypersensitivity is the mechanism is involved in the EoE.
• It is postulated that the EoE-defining endoscopic and histologic manifestations are a culmination of the disease process which, may have debilitating long-term effects including strictures and food impactions in untreated or poorly managed cases of EoE.
• The preformed granule proteins of the eosinophils are
  • ECP- Eosinophil Cationic Protein
  • MBP- Major Basic Protein
  • EPO- Eosinophil Peroxidase
  • EDN- Eosinophil Derived Neurotoxin
• Upon the stimulation and the degranulation, the eosinophils release the granule proteins into the tissues.
• Eosinophils synthesize and release cytokines such as
  • IL-5
  • IL-13
  • Transforming growth factor (TGF)-α and -β
  • Chemokines (eotaxins and RANTES)
  • Lipid mediators such as platelet activating factor (PAF) and leukotriene C4
• IL-5, IL-13, and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) can cause the maturation and migration of the eosinophils.

• Eosinophils cause inflammation in the EoE patients by the following mechanisms
  • Angiogenic molecules from the eosinophils recruits the inflammatory cells and increase the vascularity.
  • Fibrogenic mediators such as TGF-β1 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP)-9 causes the airway remodeling.
  • MBP and MMP-9 disrupt the integrity of the epithelial cells of the esophagus through their involvement in the smooth muscles, fibroblasts, and cell-adhesion molecules.
  • The above-mentioned processes lead to tissue remodeling eventually, causing an overall esophageal dysfunction.
  • TGF-β and eosinophilic granule proteins MBP and EPO are the key eosinophil effector proteins. The importance of eosinophils in mediating tissue fibrosis is supported by evidence in both murine and human models.
  • These findings not only highlight the importance of targeting fibrosis reversal in the treatment of EoE, but also underline the importance of eosinophils in tissue remodeling.

Gross Pathology

• Mucosal biopsies of the esophagus should be obtained in all patients in whom EoE is a clinical possibility regardless of the endoscopic appearance.
• Endoscopic abnormalities in patients with EoE are as follows:
  • Fixed esophageal ring which is corrugated
  • White exudate
  • Longitudinal furrows
  • Mucosal pallor
  • Diffuse esophageal narrowing
  • Mucosal fragility leading to esophageal lacerations during the endoscopy
• However, because these endoscopic features have been described in other esophageal disorders, none can be considered pathognomonic for EoE.

• 

  Endoscopy of the esophagus: Eosinophilic esophagitis
  Source: Wikimedia

Histopathology

• Characteristic features are as follows:
  • > 20 eosinophils/0.24 mm2.
  • Papillae are elongated
  • Papillae reach into the top 1/3 of the epithelial layer
  • Basal cell hyperplasia; > 3 cells thick or >15% of epithelial thickness

H&E stain of esophagus biopsy showing eosinophilic esophagitis, manifested by an infiltration of eosinophils in the lamina propria

• The most common cause is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If caused by GERD, the diseases is also called reflux esophagitis.
• Other causes of esophagitis include infections (most commonly candida, herpes simplex and cytomegalovirus). These infections are typically seen in immunocompromised people, such as those with HIV.
• Food allergies have also been known to cause esophagitis
• Chemical injury by alkaline or acid solutions may also cause esophagitis, and is usually seen in children or in adults who attempt suicide.
• Physical injury resulting from radiation therapy or by nasogastric tubes may also be responsible.

Pathological Findings

Images courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology

Gross Images

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  Esophagus: Candida: Gross natural color close up of distal esophagus mucosa, an excellent example of candida esophagitis

• 

  Esophagitis Candida: Gross natural color close-up, an excellent example

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  Esophagitis Candida: Gross natural color excellent close-up photo case of acute myelomonocytic leukemia

• 

  Necrotizing esophagitis and gastritis, sulfuric acid ingested as suicide attempt

Microscopic Images

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  Herpes esophagitis 100 x

• 

  Herpes esophagitis 400 x

• 

  Herpes esophagitis 600 x

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  Reflux esophagitis 100 x

• 

  Reflux esophagitis 400 x

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  Necrotizing esophagitis and gastritis, sulfuric acid ingested as suicide attempt

Histopathological Findings: Herpes Esophagitis

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