Investigation of intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) gene expressions in barrett?s oesophagus patients

Barrett's Oesophagus is the most important complication of reflux, a metaplastic change of the lining of the oesophagus, such that the normal squamous epithelium is replaced by specialised or intestinalised columnar epithelium. The cell adhesion molecules are ubiquitous recognition molecules that allow cells to communicate with one another and their environment and can lead to profound alterations in cell division, differentiation, behaviour, and function. The relationship between cancer, inflammation and intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM), which are immunglobulin supergene family of cell adhesion molecules, have been shown in many studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of ICAM-1, ICAM-2 and ICAM-3 in Barrett's Oesophagus. Eighteen patients with Barrett's Oesophagus according to endoscopy and twenty five volunteer without Barrett's Oesophagus disease included. Tissue samples supplied by biopsy and used for the gene expression assay. The significance of differences between two groups was assessed by Student t-test and Fisher?s Ki-square test, and in gene expression analysis Mann-Whitney U test used. In this study, we found significant increase in ICAM-1 expression but there was no significant differences in ICAM-2 and ICAM-3 expressions compared with control group. We think that the data originated from this study will be useful for new evaluation in determining the prognose of Barrett's Oesophagus to cancer. This study may also help to explain the molecular mechanism of occurrence of Barrett's Oesophagus. Over the long term, progression of esophageal adenocarcinoma in Barrett?s Oesophagus may be prevented by ICAM inhibitors.Keywords: Barrett, Expression, Cell adhesion molecules, Cancer.