The Esophageal Epithelial Barrier in Health and Disease Christopher H. Blevins, Prasad G. Iyer, Marcelo F. Vela, David A. Katzka  Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology  Volume 16, Issue 5, Pages 608-617 (May 2018) DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.035 Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus with magnification of the intercellular apical junction complex, showing the proteins involved in each of the 3 components of this complex. E-cadherin, epithelial-cadherin; ZO, zonulin. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2018 16, 608-617DOI: (10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.035) Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Hematoxylin and eosin stain of esophageal mucosa showing spongiosis (dilated intercellular spaces) marked by a white halo around epithelial cells in a patient with untreated EoE (original magnification ×20). Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2018 16, 608-617DOI: (10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.035) Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

Figure 3 TEM at ×4000 magnification showing cells in the suprabasal layer in the stratified squamous esophageal mucosa in a small pilot study (n = 16) of 4 different groups of patients.27 (A) Normal intercellular diameter in control subjects with a normal waist/hip ratio (noncentrally obese) and no reflux. (B–D) Dilated intercellular spaces in patients with reflux, increased waist/hip ratio, or a combination of both. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2018 16, 608-617DOI: (10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.035) Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

Figure 4 pCLE image of the esophageal mucosa after intravenous fluorescein contrast injection in a patient with no pathologic reflux (left) and pathologic reflux (right). Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2018 16, 608-617DOI: (10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.035) Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

Figure 5 Endoscopically placed mucosal impedance probe (left) and a standard ambulatory combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH probe with several impedance sensors along the length of the esophagus (right). Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2018 16, 608-617DOI: (10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.035) Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions