title: Helicobacter pylori anti-CagA antibodies: prevalence in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects in Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several reports have shown the prevalence of anti-CagA antibodies to be associated with the development of peptic ulcer diseases, while others have indicated that there is no such association.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence of antibodies to CagA and other Helicobacter pylori antigens in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects in Turkey. subjects and
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six symptomatic subjects, 16 to 74 years of age, were examined for H pylori by biopsy-based tests and ELISA. One hundred nineteen asymptomatic subjects, 20 to 65 years of age, were also tested serologically for the presence of H pylori. Samples from both groups that were found to be positive for H pylori by ELISA were then tested by immunoblotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-four (82%) symptomatic subjects and 76 (64%) asymptomatic subjects were found to be H pylori-positive by ELISA. Samples from 30 symptomatic subjects who were found to be H pylori-positive by ELISA were analyzed by immunoblotting. Antibodies to CagA (116 kDa) antigen were detected in immunoblots of 11 of 14 (79%) with chronic gastritis, 12 of 13 (92%) with duodenal ulcer and three of three (100%) with gastric cancer. Antigens of the following molecular weights were also detected in these 30 subjects: 89 kDa (VacA) in 21 (70%), 37 kDa in 21 (70%), 35 kDa in 19 (63%), 30 kDa in 27 (90%) and 19.5 kDa in 19 (63%). Immunoblots of 40 ELISA-positive asymptomatic subjects showed that 33 (83%) had antibodies to CagA antigen, 26 (65%) to VacA antigen, 30 (75%) to a 37 kDa antigen, 30 (75%) to a 35 kDa antigen, 39 (98%) to a 30 kDa antigen and 36 (90%) to a 19.5 kDa antigen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antibodies to CagA antigen were prevalent in both groups, regardless of the presence of gastroduodenal disease.
authors.affiliation: Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Fatih
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Abasiyanik
authors.forename: Ersan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Barik A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Salih
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori