Principal Investigator: Marie-Pier Tetreault, PhD Patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a chronic immune/allergic condition affecting children and adults, develop difficulty swallowing food and food obstructions in the esophagus (food tube between the mouth and stomach). Dr. Tetreault’s team has created a new mouse model that more accurately replicates the disease process of EoE and exhibit all the features observed in patients with the disease. This game changing animal model offers a unique opportunity to better understand the molecular mechanisms driving EoE. By performing “single-cell RNA sequencing”, Dr. Tetreault hopes to determine how changes in specific molecules in epithelial cells control the development of eosinophilic esophagitis. The team will perform these studies in mice that currently have the disease as well as in mice that have yet to show any obvious signs or symptoms. Dr. Tetreault believes that the early-stage disease models will help identify the initiating molecular events that lead to EoE and provide insight into the development of earlier intervention strategies now lacking in the field of...
The thought of potentially having cancer is stressful enough without undergoing an invasive biopsy to diagnose it and finding out that the procedure needs to be repeated due to inadequate sample collection. This project aims to optimize strategies for acquiring tissue samples to assist gastroenterologists (and pathologists) in diagnosing many diseases, including cancers. Relying on endoscopic ultrasound guidance, the two methods currently utilized are fine needle aspiration, which is the gold standard, and a new method called fine needle biopsy. Drs. Komanduri and Schenck are conducting the largest study to date to compare these different strategies. After collecting data from patients who have undergone one of these procedures over a five-year period, the investigator will perform advanced statistical modeling to determine the strategy that best optimizes patient outcomes (including obtaining accurate diagnoses and minimizing repeat invasive procedures) and costs. Once identified, this strategy will ultimately be implemented throughout the Northwestern Digestive Health Center to enhance patient...
Principal Investigator: Marie-Pier Tétreault, PhD The epithelial lining of the esophagus serves as the first line of defense to protect the underlying tissue from various external insults. Upon injury and inflammation, a rapid and efficient restoration of the esophageal epithelial barrier is needed. Failure to restore this barrier ultimately leads to pathological consequences. To date, most studies of inflammation have focused in immune cells because they are the paradigmatic inflammatory cell type. Yet immune cells are not the only cell type involved in inflammation and immunity. Epithelial cells sense and initiate inflammation, and also play a key role in the production of inflammatory molecules. It still remains unclear, though, how epithelial cells contribute to inflammation in patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). The investigators will determine how epithelial cells control inflammation and fibrosis in eosinophilic esophagitis. The Tétreault laboratory will also test how blocking mediators of inflammation can prevent the development and progression of...
Principal Investigator: Guang-Yu Yang, MD, PhD Most patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) experience an abnormal immune-mediated response to food antigens. Identifying unique biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation could significantly improve treatments. The conversion of cell membrane arachidonic acid to ω-6 prostaglandin and ω-6 leukotriene eicosanoids during the inflammatory cascade provides many potential drug targets to impede the inflammatory process in patients with EoE. ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have opposing influences on inflammation. Currently, there is no study on PUFA metabolism and the role these PUFAs metabolites play in the pathogenesis of EoE. Dr. Yang’s study aims to determine the ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs metabolites/eicosanoids profile in eosinophilic esophagitis using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based metabolomics approach and to identify the unique eicosanoids or biomarker/s for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring the therapeutic effect on...
Principal Investigator: Dustin Carlson, MD; Co-Principal Investigator: Erica Donnan, MD In 2017, more than 191 million opioid prescriptions were dispensed in the United States. Opioids frequently cause many gastrointestinal side effects such as bloating, reflux and constipation, yet not much is known about how opioids affect the esophagus and swallowing. Opioids can lead to symptoms that mimic esophageal disorders such as achalasia that could result in unnecessary invasive procedures including surgery. The largest study of its kind, this project will look into how opioids affect esophageal motility. Using the Esophageal Center of Northwestern’s motility registry, Drs. Carlson and Donnan have access to some 4,000 patients who have undergone high-resolution manometries to assess esophageal function. The team will look at patients who have had motility studies at Northwestern while on opioids and evaluate volunteer patients on opioids without swallowing symptoms. Given the widespread use of opioids, patients with opioid- induced swallowing problems will become more common. This study is essential in determining how opioids affect the esophagus so that clinicians can correctly evaluate and treat these...
