Effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on endocrine and exocrine mucosal functions in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection affects the concentration of regulatory peptides such as gastrin, somatostatin and cholecystokinin and the concentration and activity of glutathione and glutathione S-transferases in the gastric mucosa.


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
Although some of these peptides have been known since the beginning of this century, their action has changed since the discovery of H. pylori infection in 1983. Chronic infection with H. pylori might lead to an increased risk in developing gastric cancer. Glutathione S-transferases are involved in the cellular detoxification of xenobiotics and other toxic compounds. Since there is a close inverse relationship between the activity of glutathione S-transferase and incidence of malignancies in the gastrointestinal tract, the possible relation between H. pylori infection and activity of glutathione S-transferases in the gastric mucosa is discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of H. pylori infection on regulatory peptides and glutathione/glutathione S-transferases might play a role in the development of neoplastic changes of the H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa.
Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein 8, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
M L
ML
Verhulst
W P
WP
Hopman
W H
WH
Peters
J B
JB
Jansen
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005755:Gastrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D005755:Gastrins; D013004:Somatostatin; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione