title: Serum and tissue beta-2 microglobulin levels in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Beta-2 microglobulin (beta2-m) is a minor plasma protein, secreted from the plasma membranes as a result of the continuous regeneration of membrane proteins in the cell surface of all nucleated cells. The relationship between Helicobacter pylori and beta2-m has not been adequately established in studies. In this study, we aimed to compare the levels of serum and tissue beta2-m in patients with and without H. pylori infection, and to examine the relationship between levels of serum and tissue beta2-m.
  
  
  METHODS
  About 30 patients with H. pylori gastritis and 22 healthy persons were enrolled in this study. Gastric biopsies were histologically analyzed and compared according to tissue and serum beta2-m levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum beta2-m levels were comparable in H. pylori and control groups. There was no significant link between tissue H. pylori grade and serum beta2-m levels. Subendothelial beta2-m was detected in 19 (63.3%) cases with H. pylori and none of the control group with immunohistochemical staining (P < 0.001). There was no correlation between serum and tissue levels of beta2-m.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  beta2-m accumulates in the majority of gastric tissues of patients with active chronic gastritis who were H. pylori (+), whereas no accumulation was found in H. pylori (-) control subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hemodialysis, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akay
authors.forename: Alaattin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akay
authors.forename: Seyfettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köklü
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin