Is apoptosis in antral mucosa correlated with serum nitrite concentration in Japanese Helicobacter pylori-infected patients?
OBJECTIVE
Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric mucosa is a form of chronic active gastritis that leads to expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in host macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Nitric oxide produced by these cells infiltrating the gastric mucosa could damage DNA. We correlated apoptosis in H. pylori-infected antral tissue from peptic ulcer patients with serum nitrate-plus-nitrite.


METHODS
Biopsy specimens were obtained endoscopically from antrum and fundus in 17 peptic ulcer patients before and after H. pylori eradication. Tissue samples were subjected to rapid urease testing and histopathological scoring (updated Sydney system), as well as immunohistochemical detection of single-stranded DNA indicating apoptotic cells. Fasting serum samples were analyzed for combined nitrate and nitrite content.


RESULTS
In all cases atrophy was absent to mild in antral mucosa and H. pylori was eradicated successfully. A strong positive correlation was present between apoptosis and both inflammation and activity scores in infected antral mucosa. A significant positive correlation also was noted between apoptosis and H. pylori density. Serum nitrite concentrations were decreased significantly by successful eradication of H. pylori, and showed a strong positive correlation with H. pylori density. Serum nitrite concentrations showed a significant positive correlation with numbers of single-stranded DNA-positive cells.


CONCLUSIONS
High H. pylori density was associated with elevated serum nitrate-plus-nitrite (a marker of nitric oxide production in gastric mucosa). Increased apoptosis and abnormal gastric cell turnover are likely results.
Tari
Akira
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Atomic-Bomb Survivors Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan. atari7mb@pc4.so-net.ne.jp
Kodama
Kanji
K
Kitadai
Yasuhiko
Y
Ohta
Masahiro
M
Sumii
Koji
K
Kajiyama
Goro
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000473:pathology*; D014510:Urease
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009573:Nitrites; D014510:Urease