Differences in eosinophil molecular profiles between children and adults with eosinophilic esophagitis

• Published in: Allergy (Copenhagen) Vol. 72; no. 9; pp. 1406 - 1414
• Main Authors: Lingblom, C., Käppi, T., Bergquist, H., Bove, M., Arkel, R., Saalman, R., Wennerås, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Allergies; Autoimmune diseases; Biomarkers - blood; Blood; Blood diseases; Case-Control Studies; CD23 antigen; CD44 antigen; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Data processing; eosinophilic esophagitis; Eosinophilic Esophagitis - blood; Eosinophilic Esophagitis - diagnosis; Eosinophils; Eosinophils - chemistry; Esophageal diseases; Esophagitis; Esophagus; Female; Flow Cytometry; FOXP3; Foxp3 protein; galectin‐10; Gastrointestinal diseases; Humans; Leukocytes; Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Male; Middle Aged; mRNA; Pattern recognition; Pediatrics; Pediatrik; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Young Adult; galectin-10; Adult; Child; FOXP3; eosinophilic esophagitis
• ISSN: 0105-4538; 1398-9995; 1398-9995
• DOI: 10.1111/all.13140

Background Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) afflicts both children and adults. It has been debated whether pediatric EoE and adult EoE represent different disease entities. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the blood eosinophil molecular pattern of children with EoE is (i) distinct from that of healthy children; and (ii) different from that of adults with EoE. Methods Blood eosinophils from children and adults with EoE, and healthy controls, were analyzed with flow cytometry regarding levels of CD23, CD44, CD54, CRTH2, FOXP3, and galectin‐10. Eosinophil FOXP3 and galectin‐10 mRNA levels were determined by qPCR. The data were analyzed using a multivariate method of pattern recognition. Results An eosinophil molecular pattern capable of distinguishing children with EoE from control children was identified. A smaller fraction of eosinophils from children with EoE expressed CD44 and a larger fraction expressed CRTH2 than the controls. Eosinophils from children with EoE also had higher levels of galectin‐10 mRNA and lower levels of FOXP3 mRNA. The eosinophils from children with EoE had lower levels of surface CD54 and of FOXP3 mRNA compared with the eosinophils from the adult patients. A key finding was the detection in healthy individuals of age‐related differences in the levels of several eosinophil markers. Conclusions Children with EoE can be distinguished from healthy children based on the molecular patterns of their blood eosinophils. Age‐related physiologic differences in eosinophil molecular patterns may partly explain the different blood eosinophil phenotypes in children vs adults with EoE.