H pylori colocalises with MUC5AC in the human stomach.
BACKGROUND
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is able to adhere to and to colonise the human gastric epithelium, yet the primary gene product responsible as a receptor for its adherence has not been identified.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of the gastric mucins MUC5AC and MUC6 in the gastric epithelium in relation to H pylori colonisation in order to examine their possible roles in the binding of H pylori.


METHODS
Seventy two consecutive patients suspected of having H pylori infection.


METHODS
MUC5AC, MUC6, and H pylori were detected in single sections of antral biopsy specimens using immunohistochemical triple staining.


RESULTS
MUC5AC was expressed in the superficial epithelium and the upper part of the gastric pits. MUC6 expression was detected in the lower part of the gastric pits. The expression of both mucins in the epithelium was complementary. In each patient, there was a sharply delineated transition between MUC5AC and MUC6 producing cell populations. In all H pylori positive patients there was a striking colocalization of H pylori and MUC5AC; more than 99% of the bacteria were associated with either extracellular MUC5AC or the apical domain of MUC5AC producing cells.


CONCLUSIONS
H pylori is very closely associated with extracellular MUC5AC and epithelial cells that produce MUC5AC. This indicates that MUC5AC, but not MUC6, plays a role in the adhesion of H pylori to the gastric mucosa.
Van den Brink
G R
GR
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Tytgat
K M
KM
Van der Hulst
R W
RW
Van der Loos
C M
CM
Einerhand
A W
AW
Büller
H A
HA
Dekker
J
J
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D055272:Mucin-6; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies
C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; C524734:MUC6 protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D055272:Mucin-6; D009077:Mucins