Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Strategies

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 3773

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francesca Racca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy Clinic, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
Interests: eosinophilic esophagitis; eosinophilic gastroenteritis; asthma; food allergy; chronic rhinosinusitis; type 2 inflammatory diseases

Dr. Gaia Pellegatta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
Interests: eosinophilic esophagitis; eosinophilic gastroenteritis; upper GI endoscopy; gastroesophageal reflux disease; esophageal motility disorders; achalasia

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to our Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS), entitled “Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Strategies”.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a relatively newly recognized chronic immune-mediated disease of the esophagus characterized clinically by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction and histologically by eosinophil-predominant inflammation. Since its first description in the 1970s, it has gained increasing interest in the medical community and is now recognized as the first cause of dysphagia in adults with a constantly rising incidence in Western countries both in the pediatric and adult population. It significantly affects patients’ quality of life and, if left untreated, results in fibrotic complications.

Although important advances have been made in the understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and new treatment strategies are constantly being discovered, numerous areas of interest still remain open to research. There is an urgent need for a deeper understanding of the link between genetics, atopy, and extrinsic factors in EoE, while patients await new non-invasive diagnostic and follow-up procedures to ease their burden and new treatments or treatment modalities to ameliorate esophageal delivery.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect and give light to laboratory research, real-world data and cutting-edge up-to-date reviews focused on EoE physiopathology, diagnostics and therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Francesca Racca
Dr. Gaia Pellegatta
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

real-world data
esophageal delivery
non-invasive diagnostic methodologies
molecular mechanisms
therapeutic strategies
comorbidities
therapeutic targets

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of STAT6 Variants on the Response to Proton Pump Inhibitors and Comorbidities in Patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis

by Paula Soria-Chacartegui, Marcos Navares-Gómez, Francisca Molina-Jiménez, Emilio J. Laserna-Mendieta, Laura Arias-González, Pedro Majano, Sergio Casabona, Alfredo J. Lucendo, Francisco Abad-Santos, Cecilio Santander and Pablo Zubiaur

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(7), 3685; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25073685 - 26 Mar 2024

Viewed by 663

Abstract

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the first-line drug for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), although it is estimated that there is a lack of histological remission in 50% of patients. This research aimed to identify pharmacogenetic biomarkers predictive of PPI effectiveness and to study their association with disease features. Peak eosinophil count (PEC) and the endoscopic reference score (EREFS) were determined before and after an eight-week PPI course in 28 EoE patients. The impact of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6), CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and ABCB1 genetic variations on baseline PEC and EREFS, their reduction and histological response, and on EoE symptoms and comorbidities was analyzed. PEC reduction was higher in omeprazole-treated patients (92.5%) compared to other PPIs (57.9%, p = 0.003). STAT6 rs12368672 (g.18453G>C) G/G genotype showed higher baseline PEC values compared to G/C and C/C genotypes (83.2 vs. 52.9, p = 0.027). EREFS reduction in STAT6 rs12368672 G/G and G/C genotypes was higher than in the C/C genotype (36.7% vs. −75.0% p = 0.011). However, significance was lost after Bonferroni correction. Heartburn incidence was higher in STAT6 rs167769 (g.27148G>A) G/G patients compared to G/A (54.55% vs. 11.77%, p = 0.030). STAT6 rs12368672G>C and rs167769G>A variants might have a relevant impact on EoE status and PPI response. Further research is warranted to clarify the clinical relevance of these variants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Strategies)

Review

Jump to: Research

13 pages, 712 KiB

Open AccessReview

The New Therapeutic Frontiers in the Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Biological Drugs

by Erminia Ridolo, Alessandro Barone, Martina Ottoni, Silvia Peveri, Marcello Montagni and Francesca Nicoletta

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(3), 1702; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031702 - 30 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1292

Abstract

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a multifaceted disease characterized by a wide heterogeneity of clinical manifestations, endoscopic and histopathologic patterns, and responsiveness to therapy. From the perspective of an effective approach to the patient, the different inflammatory mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of EoE and biologics, in particular monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), targeting these pathways are needed. Currently, the most relevant is dupilumab, which interferes with both interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 pathways by binding IL-4 receptor α, and is the only mAb approved by the European Medicine Agency and US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of EoE. Other mAbs investigated include mepolizumab, reslizumab, and benralizumab (interfering with IL-5 axis), cendakimab and dectrekumab (anti-IL-13s), tezepelumab (anti-TSLP), lirentelimab (anti-SIGLEG-8), and many others. Despite the undeniable economic impact of biologic therapies, in the near future, there will be room for further reflection about the opportunity to prescribe biologic agents, not only as a last-line therapy in selected cases such as patients with comorbidities involving common pathways. Although recent findings are very encouraging, the road to permanent success in the treatment of EoE is still long, and further studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of mAbs and to discover new potential targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Strategies)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3864 KiB

Open AccessReview

Fibrous Remodeling in Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Clinical Facts and Pathophysiological Uncertainties

by Laura Arias-González, Leticia Rodríguez-Alcolado, Emilio J. Laserna-Mendieta, Pilar Navarro, Alfredo J. Lucendo and Elena Grueso-Navarro

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(2), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25020927 - 11 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1478

Abstract

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, progressive, type 2 inflammatory disease with increasing global prevalence. An eosinophil-predominant inflammation that permeates the epithelium and deeper esophageal layers characterizes the disease. Several cytokines, mainly derived from inflammatory T-helper 2 (Th2) cells and epithelial cells, are involved in perpetuating inflammatory responses by increasing surface permeability and promoting tissue remodeling characterized by epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and collagen deposition. This leads to esophageal strictures and narrow caliber esophagi, which are proportional a patient’s age and untreated disease length. Pathophysiological mechanisms leading to EoE have been described in recent years, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF)-beta have been involved in fibrotic phenomena in EoE. However, evidence on the dependence of these phenomena on TGF-beta is scarce and contradictory. This review provides state-of-the art knowledge on intimate mechanisms of esophageal fibrosis in EoE and its clinical consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Strategies)

► Show Figures