Esophageal Epithelial Cells (EEC)

The esophagus is a hollow tubular organ whose wall comprises a mucosa or epithelium, submucosa, muscle and adventitia. The epithelium is squamous and stratified, similar to the skin, oropharynx, trachea and anogenital tract. The stratified squamous esophageal epithelium protects against mechanical and chemical insults, and, in this context, has a barrier function.

The esophageal epithelial cells (EEC) proliferation was confined to the basal region, and it is believed that it is migrating from this region to the lumen. Migration is associated with the initiation of differentiation and the sequential expression of differentiation markers. Esophageal epithelial cells are a good model for studying the physiological characteristics of esophageal epithelial cells and the mechanism of the occurrence of esophageal cancer.