Expression of mast cell–associated genes is upregulated in adult eosinophilic esophagitis and responds to steroid or dietary therapy

Biopsy specimens from 7 patients without EoE (3 male and 4 female patients; median age, 54 years; age range, 27-80 years; average peak eosinophil count, 0) and from 21 patients with EoE (17 male and 4 female patients; median age, 40 years; age range, 28-84 years; average peak eosinophil count, 41.3) were studied for expression of several well-defined mast cell-associated genes: the β chain of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FCERIB), the histamine-synthesizing enzyme histidine decarboxylase (HDC), and 2 mast cell-specific proteases: tryptase α/β1 (TPSAB1) and carboxypeptidase (CPA3). [...]mast cells might be an important target for treatment of both pediatric and adult disease.