Advances in the role of fibroblasts in gastroesophageal reflux disease

Abstract

Esophageal damage in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic inflammation, and fibroblasts, as esophageal stromal cells, play an important role in the oesophageal mucosal barrier and oesophageal inflammation. Fibroblasts are closely associated with the degree of disease progression in GERD, secreting large amounts of collagen to promote oesophageal mucosal barrier repair during oesophageal damage, regulating immune homeostasis through paracrine signaling, and interacting with immune cells. In addition to secreting inflammatory products, but inappropriate fibroblast activation can induce a pro-inflammatory response. Activation of fibroblasts induces pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties promoting the presence of disease, suggesting that they may play a key role in disease progression.

Keywords

• gastroesophageal reflux disease|fibroblast|esophageal mucosa|esophageal inflammation