Minimally-invasive measurement of esophageal inflammation
The methods and apparatus of the present invention allow the evaluation of inflammation of the esophagus. Measurements may be utilized, for example, to diagnose a disease of the esophagus, to monitor inflammation of the esophagus, or to access the treatment of a disease of the esophagus. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a method for measuring esophageal inflammation comprising deploying a device into the esophagus of a subject, removing the device after a predetermined period of time, analyzing the device for a diagnostic indicator of esophageal inflammation and evaluating the diagnostic indicator to diagnose esophageal inflammation.
1. A method for sampling esophageal mucosa in a subject comprising:
(a) deploying a device into the esophagus of the subject, the device comprising a capsule located at the distal end of the device having an opening and a drag material embedded in the capsule, and a line embedded in the drag material and running through the opening of the capsule, the line comprising one or more capture agents;
(b) removing the device after a predetermined period of time during which the one or more capture agents was exposed to the esophageal mucosa of the subject;
(c) collecting one or more diagnostic indicators located in the esophageal mucosa; and
(d) evaluating the one or more diagnostic indicators.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic indicator is indicative of Barrett's esophagus or esophageal cancer.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the diagnostic indicator is one or more of a nucleic acid or a peptide indicative of Barrett's esophagus or esophageal cancer.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the diagnostic indicator is a biomolecule indicative of Barrett's esophagus or esophageal cancer.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the diagnostic indicator is guanylate cyclase 2C.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time is between 15 minutes and 12 hours.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, or 24 hours.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic indicator is one or more cells constituting the subject's microbiota.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more cells constituting the subject's microbiota are collected from at least one of the subject's mouth, nose and esophagus.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more cells comprise one or more bacterial cells of Staphylococcus sp, Streptococcus sp, Lactobacillus and Peptostreptococcus.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic indicator is selected from the group consisting of a cytokine and a chemokine.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the chemokine is an eotaxin.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the eotaxin is eotaxin-3.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic indicator is a cellular infiltrate or pH.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic indicator is a marker of an allergic response.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the marker of an allergic response is an IgE, a tryptase, CD23, FcR or an allergen.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic indicator comprises at least two indicators selected from the group consisting of a cytokine, a chemokine, a cellular infiltrate, a biomolecule, a nucleic acid, a peptide, a bacterial cell, a marker of an allergic response and a combination thereof.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the one or more diagnostic indicators further comprises quantifying the one or more diagnostic indicators.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the line comprises a distal segment comprising a sampling cloth.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the line comprises a proximal segment comprising a string made of an absorbent fiber or textured fiber.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more capture agents are one or more of an antibody, a peptide, a nucleic acid, an aptamer, and a biomolecule.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more capture agents are located on the proximal segment of the line.