Cyclic vomiting syndrome - In vitro nitric oxide and interleukin-6 releaseby esophageal and gastric mucosa

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of nausea and vomiting with complete resolution of symptoms between attacks . Nitric oxide plays a critical role in regulating several components of ga strointestinal mucosal defense and injury. Interleukin-6 has a wide variety of actions in the gastrointestinal apparatus. The purpose of this study wa s to evaluate the synthesis and release of nitric oxide and interleukin-6 b y the esophageal and gastric mucosa in 10 children with cyclic vomiting syn drome, during symptom-free periods, and in 10 controls. The nitric oxide an d interleukin-6 release by esophageal mucosa cells obtained from cyclic vom iting patients was quite similar to that in controls, but the release of ni tric oxide from gastric mucosa cells of patients was significantly higher t han that of controls. Conversely, no interleukin-6 was detectable in gastri c mucose cell supernatants in any of the patients. Further studies are need ed to evaluate the relationship between factors triggering cyclic vomiting syndrome and the release of nitric oxide and interleukin-6 by gastric mucos a.