Granzyme B is elevated in esophageal biopsies from children with eosinophilic esophagitis

Objectives: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune-mediated antigen-triggered inflammatory disease of the esophagus. Our aim was to investigate inflammatory responses by an ex vivo biopsy provocation-based method, stimulating biopsies with milk, wheat, and egg extracts.

Methods: An experimental study was conducted on esophageal biopsies from children who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Supernatants were collected before and after stimulation of the biopsies with food extracts and analyzed for 45 different inflammatory markers. Biopsies were also stained for histological analyzes.

Results: Study subjects included 13 controls, 9 active EoE, and 4 EoE in remission, median age 12 years. Of the 45 markers analyzed, three had significant differences between controls and patients with active EoE, Granzyme B, (GzmB), IL-1ra, and CXCL8 (p < .05). Levels of GzmB were higher, and levels of IL-1ra were lower in patients with active EoE compared with controls and EoE in remission both at baseline and after food extract stimulation. CXCL8 increased in active EoE compared with controls only after stimulation. The number of histologically detected GzmB-positive cells were significantly higher in patients with active EoE in contrast to control and EoE remission (p < .05).

Conclusions: The levels of the barrier-damaging protease GzmB were higher in the supernatant both before and after stimulation with food extract ex vivo in patients with active EoE. GzmB was also observed histologically in biopsies from patients with active EoE. The presence of elevated serine protease GzmB in esophageal mucosa of children with active EoE suggests a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.