Weak acid and pepsin reflux induce laryngopharyngeal mucosal barrier injury: A rabbit-model-based study.

<h4>Objective</h4>Using rabbit models, this study simulated the laryngopharynx's response to the synergistic effects of various acidic reflux environments and pepsin to investigate the response mechanism underlying weak acid reflux and pepsin in the mucosal barrier injury of laryngo...

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Main Authors: Chenjie Hou, Liqun Zhou, Yujin Zheng, Ting Chen, Renyou Hu, Jingyi Zheng, Chaofeng Liu, Yaqi Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315083
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author Chenjie Hou
Liqun Zhou
Yujin Zheng
Ting Chen
Renyou Hu
Jingyi Zheng
Chaofeng Liu
Yaqi Liu
author_facet Chenjie Hou
Liqun Zhou
Yujin Zheng
Ting Chen
Renyou Hu
Jingyi Zheng
Chaofeng Liu
Yaqi Liu
author_sort Chenjie Hou
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Objective</h4>Using rabbit models, this study simulated the laryngopharynx's response to the synergistic effects of various acidic reflux environments and pepsin to investigate the response mechanism underlying weak acid reflux and pepsin in the mucosal barrier injury of laryngopharyngeal reflux.<h4>Methods</h4>The rabbits were divided into six groups, and the original larynx was recorded for each group. During the study period, rabbits were sprayed with different doses of acid and pepsin solutions and monitored for hypopharyngeal mucosal transient impedance before and after modeling. After the experiment, laryngeal mucosal tissues were collected, observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and assessed for E-cadherin expression. The width of the intercellular space and lanthanum staining penetrating the intercellular space were also observed using electron microscopy.<h4>Results</h4>Eight weeks post-modeling, evidence of laryngopharyngeal mucosa inflammatory responses was observed in each group. Downregulation of E-cadherin expression significantly positively correlated with acid strength (p < 0.05). The pepsin and acid intervention groups showed a significantly widened space between mucosal epithelial cells in the posterior ring area (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, in the experimental group, a large amount of stained lanthanum penetrated the intercellular spaces; however, no significant difference was observed in the mucosal impedance (MI).<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study demonstrated that acid, weak acid, and pepsin could damage the laryngeal mucosal barrier; pepsin was an independent factor associated with tissue damage; the downregulation of hypopharyngeal cadherin was associated with acid-intensity exposure. Transient LP-MI cannot be applied directly.
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language English
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publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
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spelling doaj-art-a39378ec225441279e6aa7bf2f1e2d332025-02-05T05:32:11ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031508310.1371/journal.pone.0315083Weak acid and pepsin reflux induce laryngopharyngeal mucosal barrier injury: A rabbit-model-based study.Chenjie HouLiqun ZhouYujin ZhengTing ChenRenyou HuJingyi ZhengChaofeng LiuYaqi Liu<h4>Objective</h4>Using rabbit models, this study simulated the laryngopharynx's response to the synergistic effects of various acidic reflux environments and pepsin to investigate the response mechanism underlying weak acid reflux and pepsin in the mucosal barrier injury of laryngopharyngeal reflux.<h4>Methods</h4>The rabbits were divided into six groups, and the original larynx was recorded for each group. During the study period, rabbits were sprayed with different doses of acid and pepsin solutions and monitored for hypopharyngeal mucosal transient impedance before and after modeling. After the experiment, laryngeal mucosal tissues were collected, observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and assessed for E-cadherin expression. The width of the intercellular space and lanthanum staining penetrating the intercellular space were also observed using electron microscopy.<h4>Results</h4>Eight weeks post-modeling, evidence of laryngopharyngeal mucosa inflammatory responses was observed in each group. Downregulation of E-cadherin expression significantly positively correlated with acid strength (p < 0.05). The pepsin and acid intervention groups showed a significantly widened space between mucosal epithelial cells in the posterior ring area (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, in the experimental group, a large amount of stained lanthanum penetrated the intercellular spaces; however, no significant difference was observed in the mucosal impedance (MI).<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study demonstrated that acid, weak acid, and pepsin could damage the laryngeal mucosal barrier; pepsin was an independent factor associated with tissue damage; the downregulation of hypopharyngeal cadherin was associated with acid-intensity exposure. Transient LP-MI cannot be applied directly.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315083
spellingShingle Chenjie Hou
Liqun Zhou
Yujin Zheng
Ting Chen
Renyou Hu
Jingyi Zheng
Chaofeng Liu
Yaqi Liu
Weak acid and pepsin reflux induce laryngopharyngeal mucosal barrier injury: A rabbit-model-based study.
PLoS ONE
title Weak acid and pepsin reflux induce laryngopharyngeal mucosal barrier injury: A rabbit-model-based study.
title_full Weak acid and pepsin reflux induce laryngopharyngeal mucosal barrier injury: A rabbit-model-based study.
title_fullStr Weak acid and pepsin reflux induce laryngopharyngeal mucosal barrier injury: A rabbit-model-based study.
title_full_unstemmed Weak acid and pepsin reflux induce laryngopharyngeal mucosal barrier injury: A rabbit-model-based study.
title_short Weak acid and pepsin reflux induce laryngopharyngeal mucosal barrier injury: A rabbit-model-based study.
title_sort weak acid and pepsin reflux induce laryngopharyngeal mucosal barrier injury a rabbit model based study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315083
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