2p31

Structural highlights

Disease

[GPX7_HUMAN] Defects in GPX7 are a cause of Barrett esophagus (BE) [MIM:614266]. A condition characterized by a metaplastic change in which normal esophageal squamous epithelium is replaced by a columnar and intestinal-type epithelium. Patients with Barrett esophagus have an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The main cause of Barrett esophagus is gastroesophageal reflux. The retrograde movement of acid and bile salts from the stomach into the esophagus causes prolonged injury to the esophageal epithelium and induces chronic esophagitis, which in turn is believed to trigger the pathologic changes. Note=The pathologic mechanisms leading to Barrett esophagus involve GPX7 dysfunction that results in higher levels of hydrogen peroxide and ROS-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in esophageal cells.

Function

[GPX7_HUMAN] It protects esophageal epithelia from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. It suppresses acidic bile acid-induced reactive oxigen species (ROS) and protects against oxidative DNA damage and double-strand breaks.

Evolutionary Conservation

Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.

See Also

• Glutathione peroxidase