CD8A and gastroesophageal reflux disease: These findings were also more pronounced in patients <6 years of age.25 FOXP3+ regulatory T cells and CD8+ T cells have been shown to be increased in esophageal biopsies in EoE and GERD suggesting a possible negative mechanism that regulates the inflammatory response.26, 27 In addition, it has recently been shown that IL-18 and its receptor IL-18Rα are increased in the blood and esophagus, respectively, in patients with EoE.