Objective: To observe the P38 expression and cell proliferation-apoptosis in reflux esophagitis(RE), Barrett esophagus(BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma(EA). Methods: The expression of P38 and Ki-67 were determined by immunohistochemistry technique and western blotting, and the cell apoptosis were determined by TUNEL in RE, BE, EA and the normal control, of which the esophageal mucous membrane biopsy were obtained by gastroscopy. Results:The Ki-67 expression ratio by immunohistochemistry were 10%, 55%, 60% and 83.3% in the normal control, RE, BE and EA, respectively. The cell apoptosis index by TUNEL were (1.51±1.06) %, (8.12±1.55)%, ( 7.25±1.87) % and (3.63±1.70) % in the normal control, RE, BE and EA, respectively. The phosphorylated P38 protein absorbance ratio by western blotting was 0.09±0.03 in RE and 0.11±0.04 in BE, with no phosphorylated P38 expression in EA and the normal control. Conclusion: Compared to the esophageal adenocarcinoma, there were the increased cell apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation accompanied by the up-regulation of phosphorylated P38 protein expression in reflux esophagitis and Barrett esophagus, which showed P38 might be involved in the cell proliferation- apoptosis regulation in the pathogenesis of reflux esophagitis and Barrett esophagus. |