High exposure to advanced glycation End-products could facilitate the occurrence of pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a major cause of upper gastrointestinal morbidity in the pediatric age. It has been hypothesized that the interaction between genetic and environmental factors (i.e., dietary habits) may induce the development of EoE. Among dietary factors, it has been postulated that advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), present at high level in ultra-processed foods (UPFs), could be involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases, including food allergy. AGEs are ligands to the RAGE receptor and, mimicking signals provoked by tissue damage, are capable to increase tissue permeability, inflammation and Th2 response. We aimed to evaluate the potential pathogenic role elicited by AGEs in pediatric EoE.