Host gastric Lewis expression determines the bacterial density of Helicobacter pylori in babA2 genopositive infection.
OBJECTIVE
We tested if host gastric Lewis antigens and the babA2 genotype of Helicobacter pylori correlated with clinicohistological outcome.


METHODS
We enrolled 188 dyspeptic patients (45 with duodenal ulcer, 45 with gastric ulcer, and 98 with chronic gastritis) with H pylori infection, proved by culture and gastric histology, reviewed by the updated Sydney system. Gastric expression of Lewis (Le) antigens Le(a), Le(b), Le(x), and Le(y) was determined immunochemically to determine intensity (range 0-3). The corresponding 188 H pylori isolates were screened for babA2 genotype by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
All H pylori isolates had a positive babA2 genotype. We identified Le(a) in 33.5%, Le(b) in 72.9%, Le(x) in 86.2%, and Le(y) in 97.4% of biopsies from these 188 patients. Patients who expressed Le(b) had a higher H pylori density than those who did not express Le(b) (p<0.001). Among 139 patients who expressed Le(b), H pylori density increased with a higher Le(b) intensity (p<0.05). Gastric atrophy decreased with Le(b) intensity and thus resulted in lower H pylori density in the antrum (p<0.05). For the 49 patients without gastric Le(b) expression, H pylori density was positively related with Le(x) and Le(a) expression (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Taiwanese H pylori isolates are 100% babA2 genopositive. Gastric Le(b) as well as Le(x) intensity may be major determinants of H pylori density. While lacking gastric Le(b) expression, Le(x) and Le(a) were closely related to H pylori colonisation.
Sheu
B-S
BS
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Medical College, No. 1 University Road, Tainan, Taiwan 701.
Sheu
S-M
SM
Yang
H-B
HB
Huang
A-H
AH
Wu
J-J
JJ
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; C400429:BabA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; C094162:Lewis Y antigen