Metaplasia

Metaplasia - (from the Greek metaplasis, which means “transformation, modification”) is the process of replacing one type of mature cell with another type of cell. It occurs as a tissue response to chronic inflammation or injury.

Normally, epithelial cells of the mucous membranes of organs differentiate in accordance with the function of the organ. For example, in the esophagus a multilayered squamous epithelium is formed, resistant to mechanical stress during swallowing, and in the stomach and intestines - a single-layer cylindrical epithelium that secretes mucus.

With metaplasia, in response to chronic irritation (for example, gastritis or ulcers), cells are replaced by another type that is unusual for this organ. Thus, cylindrical or transitional multilayered epithelium can develop in the esophagus, and multilayered squamous epithelium can develop in the stomach.

These altered cells are less adapted to perform the specialized functions of the organ. In addition, they can undergo malignant transformation. Therefore, metaplasia is considered a precancerous condition.

Metaplasia is a process in which individual cells have the ability to rearrange and mutate into neighboring forms, which leads to a change in the nature of the tissue. During this pathology, tissues and cells that should be in one zone are actually in another, or there is no direct connection between them. Thus, new tissue is formed. It is worth remembering that this change begins from the surface layer. In the inner part, tissue cells grow evenly.

Metaplasia is the subject of study in many sciences, such as biomedicine, oncology, microscopy, anatomy, chemistry and others. This concept helps to understand how a new organ or tissue is formed in the place of another organ. There are several types of metaplasia:

1. Epithelial metaplasia. Formed when the shape of the basal cells of the mucous membrane changes

2. Glandular metaplasia It is characterized by the appearance of glands in animals at some period of their life. If glandular rudimentary epithelium occurs in a person, then glands form on the surface of his skin

3. Peroxidase metaplasia is a reversible change of cells, during which the nuclear material changes, that is, new genes appear in the cell. This pathology is not truly dangerous, since the cells of the body are involved in it, they have simply changed a little. In this case, it is recommended to ensure that the main health indicators are maintained, then you can expect regression from this pathology. And if metaplastic cells begin to form a tumor, then the appearance of new cells indicates oncology. Metaplastic epithelium is usually resistant to cancer cells. Therefore, when fighting the oncological process, therapy can only affect the original site of metaplastic epithelium. Despite all the difficulties of treating cancer, the process is effective. However, situations arise when all cases of infection with metaplastic cells are dangerous for the body. These include the disease “neuroblastoma”. As a rule, a child suffers from this disease. The main signs of pathology are: