Gastric mucosal hepatocyte growth factor in Helicobacter pylori gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is increasingly recognized for its role in a variety of hepatic and systemic diseases. Its relationship to gastritis has not been studied. We aimed at measuring gastric mucosal HGF levels in the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori gastritis, in peptic ulcers, and in response to H. pylori eradication.


METHODS
Fifty one patients were studied. Patients were not entered if they had liver disease, malignancy, or any systemic illness. HGF was measured in gastric antral incubates using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Assessments were repeated 6 wk after a 2-wk course of anti-H. pylori triple therapy in 12 patients. Code numbers were used for blinding.


RESULTS
The median gastric mucosal HGF level was 36 ng/gm/tissue in patients with H. pylori gastritis (n = 33) compared with 19 ng/gm in 18 negative controls (p = 0.0024), 18 ng/gm after the eradication of H. pylori (p = 0.021), 23 ng/gm in all patients with ulcers (n = 10), and 26 ng/gm/tissue in H. pylori-positive ulcers (n = 7).


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric mucosal HGF levels were elevated in H. pylori gastritis and reduced by its eradication. These results are relevant to our understanding of the increased gastric cell proliferation in patients with H. pylori-related gastritis.
Taha
A S
AS
Gastrointestinal and Pathology Centre, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Curry
G W
GW
Morton
R
R
Park
R H
RH
Beattie
A D
AD
D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001706:Biopsy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010406:Penicillins; D008795:Metronidazole; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D000658:Amoxicillin; C002791:bismuth tripotassium dicitrate