Objective
In previous studies using oesophageal squamous cells from patients with Barrett's oesophagus (NES-B cells) and from patients without Barrett's oesophagus (NES-G cells), we showed that acid and bile salts induced CDX2 expression only in NES-B cells. CDX2, a transcription factor required to form intestinal epithelium, is a target of NF-κB signaling, which can be inhibited by aspirin. We explored mechanisms underlying differences between NES-B and NES-G cells in CDX2 expression, and effects of aspirin on that CDX2 expression.
Design
We exposed NES-B and NES-G cells to acid and bile salts, with and without aspirin, and evaluated effects on IκB-NF-κB-PKAc complex activation, p65 NF-κB subunit function, and CDX2 expression.
Results
In both NES-B and NES-G cells, acid and bile salts activated NADPH oxidase to generate H2O2, which activated the IκB-NF-κB-PKAc complex. NES-B cells exhibited higher levels of phosphorylated IκB and p65 and greater NF-κB transcriptional activity than NES-G cells, indicating greater IκB-NF-κB-PKAc complex activation by acid and bile salts in NES-B cells, and p65 siRNA prevented their increased expression of CDX2. Aspirin blocked IκB phosphorylation, p65 nuclear translocation, CDX2 promoter activation, and CDX2 expression induced by acid and bile salts in NES-B cells.
Conclusions
Differences between NES-B and NES-G cells in NF-κB activation by acid and bile salts can account for their differences in CDX2 expression, and their CDX2 expression can be blocked by aspirin. These findings might explain why some GORD patients develop Barrett's oesophagus while others do not, and why aspirin might protect against development of Barrett's oesophagus.