Serological responses of FldA and small-molecular-weight proteins of Helicobacter pylori: correlation with the presence of the gastric MALT tissue.
OBJECTIVE
We tested whether the serological response to Flavodoxin-A (FldA) protein and anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoblots correlated to the degree of mucosaassociated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in the stomach.


METHODS
Eighty H. pyloni-infected patients with different degrees of MALT in the stomach were investigated with serum sampling and endoscopy on enrolment, the 2nd and the 12th months after anti-H. pylori therapy. All sera were tested for the anti-FldA protein and anti-H. pylon immunoblots, including 19.5, 26.5, 30, 35, 89, and 116 KDa (CagA). Regression of follicular gastritis was assessed by histology.


RESULTS
Patients with dense lymphoid follicles had higher prevalence rates of anti-FldA protein, 19.5, 26.5, and 30 KDa antibodies of H. pylori (p < .05). Histologic downgrade of MALT was observed in 25% (10/40) of patients in the 2nd month and in 60% (23/38) in the 12th month after H. pylori therapy. After H. pylori eradication, the patients with MALT and dense lymphoid follicles had significantly negative seroconversions of 19.5, 26.5, 30, and 35 KDa antibodies (p < .05), but not of CagA and FldA.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with gastric MALT and dense lymphoid follicles had different anti-H. pylori serological responses to those with scanty or an absence of lymphoid follicles. The negative seroconversion of the smaller-molecular-weight proteins, but not CagA and FldA, may correlate with the regression of MALT by H. pylori eradication.
Yang
Hsiao-Bai
HB
Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University, Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan.
Sheu
Bor-Shyang
BS
Wang
Jin-Town
JT
Lin
Shih-Ting
ST
Wu
Jiunn-Jong
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D001706:Biopsy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000473:pathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins; C120194:FldA protein, Bacteria; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori