Activation of protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) is involved in the mucosal immune pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that is characterized by proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8).
PAR-2 gene expression was 7- to 10-fold upregulated (P<0.0001) in the mucosa of patients with GERD and correlated positively with IL-8 expression and with histomorphological alterations (dilated intercellular spaces, papillary elongation, basal cell hyperplasia (BCH); P<0.01).
To evaluate the expression of the cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the GE mucosa in GERD patients and controls and to correlate the cytokine expression with the histomorphological parameters.
The presence of basal zone hyperplasia and intraepithelial neutrophils, histopathological hallmarks of GERD, were associated with higher levels of IL-8 mRNA.