ABH and Lewis antigen distributions in blood, saliva and gastric mucosa and H pylori infection in gastric ulcer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the ABH and Lewis antigen expression in erythrocytes, saliva and gastric epithelium, as well as the association between H pylori and the presence of gastric epithelial lesions.


METHODS
The distribution of ABH and Lewis blood group antigens in erythrocytes, saliva and gastric mucosa of H pylori-infected gastric ulcer patients was analyzed. Forty-two patients with gastric ulcer were studied, and fifty healthy individuals were used as control group. The blood group antigens were determined by direct hemagglutination, dot-ELISA and immunohistochemical methods in erythrocytes, saliva and gastric mucosa specimens, respectively. Diagnosis for H pylori infection was performed by conventional optical microscopy and ELISA.


RESULTS
A higher seroprevalence of IgG H pylori specific antibodies was observed in gastric ulcer patients (90%) compared to the control group (60%). We observed a significant increase of phenotypes O, A2 and Lewis b in H pylori-infected patients. The expression of these antigens had progressive alterations in areas of ulcerous lesions and intestinal metaplasia.


CONCLUSIONS
ABH and Lewis blood group antigens are a good indicator for cellular alterations in the gastric epithelium.
Immunogenetics Laboratory , Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pará, Brazil. lu-caricio@bol.com.br
Luisa Caricio
LC
Martins
Tereza Cristina
TC
de Oliveira Corvelo
Henrique Takeshi
HT
Oti
Rosane
R
do Socorro Pompeu Loiola
Delia Cristina Figueira
DC
Aguiar
Katarine Antonia
KA
dos Santos Barile
Renata Kelly Costa
RK
do Amaral
Hivana Patricia Melo
HP
Barbosa
Amanda Alves
AA
Fecury
Juciclayton Tavares
JT
de Souza
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012463:Saliva / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori