title: H pylori colocalises with MUC5AC in the human stomach.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Van den Brink
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tytgat
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Van der Hulst
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Van der Loos
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Einerhand
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Büller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dekker
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; C524734:MUC6 protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D055272:Mucin-6; D009077:Mucins