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Amiko Uchida

Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Microbiology & Immunology

Gastroenterology, Allergy, Microbiota, Diet

Uchida

Molecular Biology Program

Education

B.S. Weber State University

M.D. University of Utah

Links

Lab Page

PubMed Literature Search

Amiko.Uchida@hsc.utah.edu

Research

Our lab studies the dynamic interactions between the gastrointestinal mucosa and the immune system, with a central focus on eosinophils and host-microbe communication in health and disease.

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) are an emerging group of chronic inflammatory conditions driven by type 2 immunity and characterized by eosinophil-rich inflammation of the gut. The most common EGID, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), affects approximately 1 in 700 individuals in the United States. EoE is a chronic, antigen-driven disorder of the esophagus, marked by symptoms such as dysphagia and food impaction, and histologically by eosinophil infiltration into the esophageal mucosa.

Despite their abundance in the gastrointestinal tract, eosinophils remain an enigmatic cell type. Traditionally viewed through the lens of allergic inflammation, eosinophils are increasingly recognized as key players in tissue homeostasis, repair, and immune regulation. However, the context-dependent roles of eosinophils in maintaining health versus driving disease are still poorly understood, owing in part to a lack of tools to study them in a controlled setting. To address this gap, our lab has developed a novel in vitro assay to study and differentiate eosinophils, enabling deeper mechanistic insight into their biology and function. We also utilize mouse models and patient biospecimens to fully incorporate a multidisciplinary approach spanning basic, translational, and population-level research to understand the factors that shape eosinophil behavior and gastrointestinal mucosal immunity.

Mucosal Immunity and Host-Microbe Interactions

We investigate how immune cells of the gastrointestinal tract interact with the microbiota to maintain mucosal integrity and homeostasis. By integrating metagenomics, dietary analysis, and in vivo models, we aim to understand how perturbations in host-microbe relationships contribute to chronic inflammation, barrier dysfunction, and disease susceptibility.

Type 2 Immunity and Eosinophil Signaling

Our lab explores how type 2 immune pathways—particularly those involving IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-33—regulate eosinophil trafficking, activation, and tissue remodeling. We are particularly interested in the context-specific roles eosinophils play in both promoting inflammation and maintaining tissue homeostasis in the GI tract.

Eosinophils in Health and Homeostasis

Beyond their well-known role in allergic disease, eosinophils also contribute to normal physiological processes. We are working to define the non-inflammatory, homeostatic functions of eosinophils in the gut, including their interactions with stromal and epithelial cells, and their contribution to immune education and repair mechanisms.

Population-Based Insights into Eosinophilic Esophagitis

We leverage large-scale clinical and population-based datasets to identify environmental, demographic, and healthcare utilization factors that influence risk, diagnosis, and outcomes in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Our goal is to translate population-level insights into strategies for earlier detection, risk stratification, and precision medicine in EoE.

References

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Olsson N, Bergman D, Sun J, Carlson M, Uchida AM, Ludvigsson JF (2025). Incidence of non-esophageal eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease in Sweden 1990-2015. Scand J Gastroenterol, 60(4), 343-348. (Read full article)
  2. Turapov T, Uchida AM, Pletneva MA, Peterson KA (2025). Gastrointestinal Tissue Eosinophil Quantification in Healthy Adult Volunteers. Gastroenterology. (Read full article)
  3. Pyne AL, Uchida AM, Hazel MW, Pletneva MA, Allen-Brady K, Peterson KA (2024). Differing Epithelial and Immunologic Activation Patterns Following Food Reintroduction Reveal Different Transcriptional Profiles in Active Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Gastroenterology. (Read full article)
  4. Benjamin L Wright, MD12, Juan Pablo Abonia, MD3, Edsel M Abud, MD, PhD45, Seema S Aceves, MD, PhD5, Steven J Ackerman, PhD6, Melinda Braskett, MD7, Joy W Chang, MD, MS8, Mirna Chehade, MD, MPH9, Gregory M Constantine, MD10, Carla M Davis, MD11, Evan S Dellon, MD, MPH12, Alfred D Doyle, PhD1, Raquel Durban, RD13, David A Hill MDPhD14, 15, Elizabeth T Jensen, MPH, PhD16, Anupama Kewalramani, MD17, Paneez Khoury, MD, MHSc10, Amy D Klion, MD10, Leah Kottyan, PhD3, Fei Li Kuang, MD, PhD18 Emily C McGowan, MD, PhD19, Melanie A Ruffner MD, PhD1415, Lisa A Spencer, PhD20, Jonathan M Spergel, MD, PhD1415, Amiko M Uchida, MD21, Joshua B Wechsler, MD, MSc22, Robert D Pesek, MD23 (2024). Advances and Ongoing Challenges in Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders presented at the CEGIR/TIGERS Symposium at the 2024 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Meeting. . JACI.
  5. Pyne AL, Uchida AM, Hazel MW, Stubben CJ, Chang JW, Bailey DD, Gonsalves N, Allen-Brady K, Peterson KA, Pletneva MA (2024). Effect of benralizumab on histopathology and inflammatory signatures in a clinical cohort of eosinophilic esophagitis. Dis Esophagus. (Read full article)
  6. Forss A, Uchida AM, Roelstraete B, Ebrahimi F, Garber JJ, Sundstrm J, Ludvigsson JF (2024). Eosinophilic esophagitis and risk of incident major adverse cardiovascular events: a nationwide matched cohort study. Esophagus. (Read full article)
  7. Bozorg SR, Sderling J, Mrild K, Garber JJ, Uchida A, Neovius M, Ludvigsson JF, Everhov H (2024). Economic Burden of Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Nationwide Cost-of-Illness Study. Am J Gastroenterol. (Read full article)
  8. Ding J, Garber JJ, Uchida A, Lefkovith A, Carter GT, Vimalathas P, Canha L, Dougan M, Staller K, Yarze J, Delorey TM, Rozenblatt-Rosen O, Ashenberg O, Graham DB, Deguine J, Regev A, Xavier RJ (2024). An esophagus cell atlas reveals dynamic rewiring during active eosinophilic esophagitis and remission. Nat Commun, 12(1), 3344.
  9. Ding J, Garber JJ, Uchida A, Lefkovith A, Carter GT, Vimalathas P, Canha L, Dougan M, Staller K, Yarze J, Delorey TM, Rozenblatt-Rosen O, Ashenberg O, Graham DB, Deguine J, Regev A, Xavier RJ (2024). An esophagus cell atlas reveals dynamic rewiring during active eosinophilic esophagitis and remission. Nat Commun, 15(1), 3344. (Read full article)
  10. Soni M, Peterson KA, Uchida AM (2024). Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases. JAMA.
  11. Uchida AM (2023). "Eosinophilic esophagitis is associated with increased risk of later inflammatory bowel disease in a nationwide Swedish population cohort. United European Gastroenterology Journal, 12(1), 34-43.
  12. Reddy CA, Allen-Brady K, Uchida AM, Peterson KA, Hoffman AM, Souza RF, Spechler SJ (2023). Achalasia is Strongly Associated with Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Other Allergic Disorders. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 22(1), 34-41.e2. (Read full article)
  13. Warner ASC, Ufere NN, Patel NJ, Lau ES, Uchida AM, Hills-Dunlap K, Bromberg GK, Cunningham EA, Tagerman MD, Mills GG, Palamara K, Rigotti NA, Burnett-Bowie SM, Yeh DD, Tanguturi VK (2022). A Women in Medicine Trainees' Council: a model for women trainee professional development. Postgrad Med J, 99(1168), 79-82. (Read full article)
  14. Lopes EW, Boneschansker L, Chu JN, Ha JB, Badran YR, McLean Diaz P, Przybyszewski EM, Scheid JF, Subramanian S, Vlez C, Wilechansky RM, Changela M, Richter JM, Uchida AM, Lochhead P (2023). Improving the Consent Process With an Informed Consent Video Prior to Outpatient Colonoscopy. Gastro Hep Adv, 2(8), 1082-1087. (Read full article)
  15. Uchida AM, Ro G, Garber JJ, Roelstraete B, Ludvigsson JF (2022). Prior hospital-based infection and risk of eosinophilic esophagitis in a Swedish nationwide case-control study. United European Gastroenterol J, 10(9), 999-1007. (Read full article)
  16. Uchida, AM, Ro, G, Garber, JJ, Roelstraete, B, Ludvigsson, JF (2022). Prior hopsital-based infection and risk of eosinophilic esophagitis in a Swedish nationwide case-control study. United European Gastroenterol J, 1-9.
  17. Allen-Brady K, Colletier KJ, Woller S, Eliason K, Uchida AM, Ro G, Newman M, Peterson KA (2022). Eosinophilic Gastritis and Enteritis Are Increased in Families with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Am J Gastroenterol, 118(2), 263-268. (Read full article)
  18. Pyne AL, Hazel MW, Uchida AM, Qeadan F, Jordan KC, Holman A, Harward B, Gleich GJ, Peterson KA (2022). Oesophageal secretions reveal local food-specific antibody responses in eosinophilic oesophagitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 56(9), 1328-1336. (Read full article)
  19. Uchida AM, Ro G, Qiang L, Peterson KA, Round J, Dougan M, Dougan SK (2022). Human differentiated eosinophils release IL-13 in response to IL-33 stimulation. Front Immunol, 13, 946643. (Read full article)
  20. Kummerlowe C, Mwakamui S, Hughes TK, Mulugeta N, Mudenda V, Besa E, Zyambo K, Shay JES, Fleming I, Vukovic M, Doran BA, Aicher TP, Wadsworth MH 2nd, Bramante JT, Uchida AM, Fardoos R, Asowata OE, Herbert N, Yilmaz H, Klverpris HN, Garber JJ, Ordovas-Montaes J, Gartner ZJ, Wallach T, Shalek AK, Kelly P (2022). Single-cell profiling of environmental enteropathy reveals signatures of epithelial remodeling and immune activation. Sci Transl Med, 14(660), eabi8633. (Read full article)
  21. Garber JJ, Roelstraete B, Lochhead PJ, Uchida AM, Michalsson K, Oln O, Ludvigsson JF (2022). Risk of fractures in individuals with eosinophilic esophagitis: nationwide population-based cohort study. Esophagus. (Read full article)
  22. Garber JJ, Lochhead PJ, Uchida AM, Roelstraete B, Bergman D, Clements MS, Ludvigsson JF (2022). Increasing incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis in Sweden: a nationwide population study. Esophagus. (Read full article)
  23. Lenehan PJ, Cirella A, Uchida AM, Crowley SJ, Sharova T, Boland G, Dougan M, Dougan SK, Heckler M (2021). Type 2 immunity is maintained during cancer-associated adipose tissue wasting. Immunother Adv, 1(1), ltab011. (Read full article)
  24. Przybyszewski EM, Deshpande V, Uchida AM (2020). An Unsuspected Cause of Rectal Bleeding. Gastroenterology, 160(4), e1-e2. (Read full article)
  25. Kumar NL, Kugener G, Vemula A, Wasan S, Uchida AM, Scheid FJ, Yarze J, Saltzman JR (2020). Multi-center prospective validation study of the SAFE-T colonoscopy evaluation tool: a web-based smartphone application for evaluation of gastroenterology fellow performance in colonoscopy. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf).
  26. Uchida AM, Boden EK, James EA, Shows DM, Konecny AJ, Lord JD (2020). Escherichiacoli-Specific CD4+ T Cells Have Public T-Cell Receptors and Low Interleukin 10 Production in Crohn's Disease. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol, 10(3), 507-526. (Read full article)
  27. Chou DB, Sworder B, Bouladoux N, Roy CN, Uchida AM, Grigg M, Robey PG, Belkaid Y (2012). Stromal-derived IL-6 alters the balance of myeloerythroid progenitors during Toxoplasma gondii infection. J Leukoc Biol, 92(1), 123-31. (Read full article)
  28. Uchida AM, Meyers RA, Cooper BG, Goller F (2010). Fibre architecture and song activation rates of syringeal muscles are not lateralized in the European starling. J Exp Biol, 213(Pt 7), 1069-78. (Read full article)

Review

  1. Uchida AM, Burk CM, Rothenberg ME, Furuta GT, Spergel JM (2023). Recent advances in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis. [Review]. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract, 11(9), 2654-2663.
  2. Uchida AM, Ro G, Garber JJ, Peterson KA, Round JL (2022). Models and Tools for Investigating Eosinophilic Esophagitis at the Bench. [Review]. Front Immunol, 13, 943518. (Read full article)

Editorial

  1. Uchida AM, Dougan M (2021). Editorial: Penetration of food protein through the oesophageal mucosa-is this where EoE starts? Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 53(3), 447-448. (Read full article)

Letter

  1. Spechler SJ, Reddy CA, Allen-Brady K, Uchida AM, Peterson KA, Hoffman AM, Souza RF (2023). Reply. [Letter to the editor]. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. (Read full article)
  2. Uchida AM, Rabinowitz LG, Harris CE, Clark VR, Duma N, Willers H (2021). Baby Steps in the Right Direction: Toward a Parental Leave Policy for Gastroenterology Fellows. [Letter to the editor]. Am J Gastroenterol, 116(11), 2300. (Read full article)
  3. Uchida AM, Lenehan PJ, Vimalathas P, Miller KC, Valencia-Yang M, Qiang L, Canha LA, Ali LR, Dougan M, Garber JJ, Dougan SK (2021). Tissue eosinophils express the IL-33 receptor ST2 and type 2 cytokines in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. [Letter to the editor]. Allergy, 77, 656-660. (Read full article)
  4. Harris CE, Clark VR, Duma N, Uchida AM, Kowalski A (2021). Re: "The Intersection of Disability and Pregnancy: Risks for Maternal Morbidity and Mortality" by Signore et al. [Letter to the editor]. J Womens Health (Larchmt), 30(9), 1362-1363. (Read full article)

Abstract

  1. Uchida AM, Vimalalthas P, Valencia-Yang M, Miller K, Garber J (2020). The IL-33 receptor ST2 is highly induced on IL- 13-expressing tissue eosinophils in eosinophilic esophagitis [Abstract]. 145(2), 43.
Last Updated: 7/23/25