Degranulated eosinophils contain more fine nerve fibers in the duodenal mucosa of patients with functional dyspepsia

Min Jin Lee, Hye Kyung Jung, Ko Eun Lee, Yeung Chul Mun, Sanghui Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background/Aims Functional dyspepsia (FD) is characterized as chronic recurrent upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of any organic disorder. We hypothesized that duodenal low-grade inflammation activates superficial afferent nerve sprouting, thereby contributing to hypersensitivity in patients with FD. Methods A prospective case-control study was conducted in a tertiary referral center. FD was defined using the Rome III criteria. Standardized endoscopic biopsies were performed in the stomach and duodenum. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining for major basic proteins were performed to detect granulated eosinophil-derived granules, and S-100 staining was performed to detect fine nerve fibers. Results A total of 51 patients with FD (82% female; mean age 35.8 ± 13.4 years) and 35 controls were enrolled. Activated eosinophil counts in the duodenum were significantly higher in patients with FD than in controls (41.4% vs 17.1%, P = 0.005). Microscopic duodenitis was more frequently detected in patients with FD than in controls. Fine nerve fibers were more abundant in patients with FD than in controls (45.1% vs 11.4%, P = 0.029). The abundance of fine nerve fibers highly correlated with the degree of activated eosinophils. Conclusion Duodenal low-grade inflammation, such as mucosal eosinophilic accumulation with degranulation, promoted mucosal enteric nerve fiber density and sprouting in patients with FD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)212-221
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility.

Keywords

  • Duodenum
  • Dyspepsia
  • Eosinophils
  • Inflammation
  • Peripheral nervous system

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