Epithelial Barrier Function and Altered Cell Signaling Pathways in the Esophageal Epithelium of Achalasia Patients

The findings reveal that major signaling pathways, including MAPK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and JAK/STAT, are significantly sup pressed in the esophageal epithelium of achalasia patients, despite preserved epithelial barrier integrity. These molecular alterations may represent a previously unrecognized component of achalasia pathogenesis. Furthermore, the preserved barrier function suggests that endoscopic therapies such as peroral endoscopic myotomy may not exacerbate reflux-related epithelial injury in these patients. Cite this article as:Kipcak S, Ergun P, Gunel NS, Bor S. Epithelial barrier function and altered cell signaling pathways in the esophageal epithelium of achalasia patients. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2026;37(2):170-178.