Increased levels of prostaglandins and nitric oxide in esophageal mucosa of children with reflux esophagitis

Background: Prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) is said to be both protective and detrimental for esophageal mucosal integrity. Nitric oxide (NO) controls several esophageal neuromuscular functions, including relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The purpose of this study was to verify PGE, and NO levels in esophageal mucosa of children with reflux esophagitis. Methods: The patients were 10 children. age range 7 to 12 years, affected by reflux esophagitis. The control subjects were 10 children, age range 6 to 11 years, with recurrent abdominal pain. Tissue fragments obtained by esophageal biopsies were placed in a culture medium and processed to obtain a cell suspension. Cells were incubated for 24 hours at 37 degrees C. Thereafter, supernatants were collected and divided into aliquots to determine the amounts of PGE(2) and NO metabolites. Results: Esophageal cells obtained from reflux esophagitis patients synthesize and release a significantly higher (p < 0.01) amount of PGE(2) and NO (PGE(2) 1.9 +/- 0.56 ng/10(6) cells per 24 hours; NO 124.94 +/- 18.36 mu M/10(6) cells per 24 hours) than did the control group (PGE(2) 0.66 +/- 0.14 ng/10(6) cells per 24 hours; NO 68.03 +/- 12.3 mu M/10(6) cells per 24 hours). Conclusions: These results suggest that in esophageal mucosa, PGE(2) and NO, in low concentrations, are protective, whereas, at high doses, they can be harmful. Higher amounts of PGE(2) and NO in the esophageal mucosa of reflux esophagitis patients suggest that similar noxious stimuli trigger the inducible forms of the respective enzyme.