Distribution of H.pylori antigens in gastric mucosa and its significance.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution of H.pylori antigens in the gastric mucosa in patients with H.pylori infection, and the relationship between the distribution and gastric cancer.


METHODS
Of 112 patients confirmed by pathological study to have chronic superficial gastritis, precancerous changes (chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia or atypical hyperplasia) and gastric cancer, 28 were H.pylori negative and 84 were H.pylori positive. H.pylori antigens in the gastric mucosa were detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The H.pylori positive group, comprised 12 of 22 (50.0%) in the chronic superficial gastritis group, 22 of 25 (88.0%) in the precancerous changes group and 13 of 35 (37.1%) in the gastric cancer group. The positive rates of H.pylori antigens in the cytoplasm progressively increased, respectively at 0.0% (0/12), 63.6% (14/22) and 84.6% (11/13) for the same groups (chi(2)=19.76, P=0.000); H.pylori antigens were located in the mucus layer and above the neck of the mucosal gland in 9 of 12 (75.0%) cases with chronic superficial gastritis, at the neck of the mucosal gland and the isthmus in 12 of 22 (54.5%) cases with precancerous changes, below the isthmus in 9 of 13 (69.2%) cases with gastric cancer (chi(2)=25.30, P=0.000). In the H.pylori negative group, no H.pylori antigen was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
With the progression of chronic superficial gastritis-->precancerous changes-->gastric cancer, H.pylori antigens progressively migrated from the outer part to the inner part of the cell, and from the superficial to the deep gastric mucosa.
Lu
Xin-liang
XL
Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China. xl_lu@hotmail.com.cn
Qian
Ke-da
KD
Tang
Xun-qiu
XQ
Zhu
Yong-liang
YL
D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000941:Antigens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor