[Glutathione levels in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric mucosa].
OBJECTIVE
Oxidative stress may contribute to gastric epithelial damage and mutagenesis caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). H. pylori induces recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells, which produces reactive oxygen species. H. pylori extract directly induces the synthesis of reactive oxygen species in gastric epithelial cells and causes DNA damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the levels of glutathione (GSH) and H. pylori density, histological findings, endoscopic findings, clinical variables, and virulence factors.


METHODS
Gastric biopsy specimens were obtained from 73 consecutive patients. The 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) reaction was used to determine GSH levels.


RESULTS
The infection rate of H. pylori was 68.5%. The GSH level was not related to age, sex, alcohol intake, and endoscopic findings. The GSH level was lower in patients infected with H. pylori. GSH levels were not correlated significantly with the grades of neutrophil, intestinal metaplasia, and atrophy. However, the GSH levels were significantly correlated with H. pylori density (r=-0.296, p=0.01) and monocyte grade (r=-0.257, p=0.02). The GSH levels were not related to CagA, VacA, and UreA.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that H. pylori causes oxidative stresses which deplete GSH in gastric mucosa of patients infected with H. pylori.
Park
Dong Kyun
DK
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon Medical School, Ghil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea. pdk66@ghil.com
Jeong
Seung Ki
SK
Chung
Moon Gi
MG
Kwon
Oh Sang
OS
Kim
Sun Suck
SS
Koo
Yang Suh
YS
Kim
Yu Kyung
YK
Kim
Yeon Suk
YS
Choi
Duck Joo
DJ
Park
Chang Shin
CS
Chung
Woon Gye
WG
Kim
Ju Hyun
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D005978:Glutathione