A human Barrett’s esophagus organoid system reveals epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity induced by acid and bile salts

2022/04/05 by Qiuyang Zhang, Ajay Bansal, Kerry B. Dunbar +10
Medicine · #Cancer Cells and Metastasis #Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment #Esophageal and GI Pathology

paper · doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00017.2022

openalex publication_date 2022/04/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Using Barrett's esophagus (BE) biopsies, we established organoids recapitulating key BE features. During early stages of organoid development, a GERD-like wound environment-induced features of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) in Barrett's progenitor cells, suggesting that reflux-induced EMP can enable Barrett's cells to migrate underneath squamous epithelium to form subsquamous intestinal metaplasia, a condition that may underlie Barrett's cancers that escape detection by endoscopic surveillance, and recurrences of Barrett's metaplasia following endoscopic eradication therapy.

Citations

• The basics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition

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