Estrogen enhances esophageal barrier function by potentiating occludin expression

• Project/Area Number: 25460924
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Akita University (2015); Tohoku University (2013-2014)
• Principal Investigator: Iijima Katsunori 秋田大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (60375003)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥5,070,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,170,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
• Keywords: エストロゲン / 逆流性食道炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We recently demonstrated that a female sex hormone, estrogen, suppressed esophageal epithelial injury in a reflux esophagitis model of rat, suggesting that estrogen may play an important role in controlling the progress of the gastro-esophageal reflux disease spectrum. In this study, we investigated the potential role of estrogen in the esophageal barrier function.Estrogen pretreatment significantly attenuated the decrease in the transmembrane resistance and the increase in the epithelial permeability induced by luminal irritants. The dilation of the intercellular space induced by luminal HCl was significantly alleviated by 17β-estradiol administration. The baseline occludin expression was significantly potentiated by 17β-estradiol administration. This is the first study showing an enhancement of the esophageal barrier function by 17β-estradiol administration. The lack of the protective effect of estrogen could be responsible for the male predominance of erosive reflux esophagitis.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Estrogen Enhances Esophageal Barrier Function by Potentiating Occludin Expression. (2016)
  • Author(s): Honda J, Iijima K, Asanuma K, Ara N, Shiroki T, Kondo Y, Hatta W, Uno K, Asano N, Koike T, Shimosegawa T.
  • Journal Title: Dig Dis Sci Volume: 61 Issue: 4 Pages: 1028-38
  • DOI: 10.1007/s10620-015-3980-6
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Estrogen Enhances Esophageal Barrier Function by Potentiating Occludin Expression. (2015)
  • Author(s): Honda J, Iijima K, Asanuma K, Ara N, Shiroki T, Kondo Y, Hatta W, Uno K, Asano N, Koike T, Shimosegawa T.
  • Organizer: Digestive disease week
  • Place of Presentation: Washington, DC
  • Year and Date: 2015-05-16
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] エストロゲンによる食道組織傷害抑制作用の機序に関する研究 (2014)
  • Author(s): 本田 純也、飯島 克則、近藤 穣、八田 和久、遠藤 博之、荒 誠之、淺沼 清孝、宇野 要、浅野 直喜、小池 智幸、今谷 晃、下瀬川 徹
  • Organizer: JDDW 2014 第56回日本消化器病学会大会
  • Place of Presentation: 神戸
  • Year and Date: 2014-10-23 – 2014-10-26
• [Presentation] Involvement of luminal nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of gastro-esophageal reflux disease spectrum (2013)
  • Author(s): Katsunori Iijima
  • Organizer: Gastro 2013 Asia-Pacific Digestive Week/World Congress of Gastroenterology
  • Place of Presentation: 上海、中国
  • Invited