[12] The molecular mechanism behind this metaplasic process is largely unknown; however, recent work of Mari et al. showed that binding of CDX2 and pSMAD 1/5/8 to the MUC2 promoter gene leads to the induction of MUC2 expression[13], which is one of the most characteristic intestinal markers highly expressed in BE. The gene discussed is MUC2; the disease is Barrett esophagus.