Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection favourably affects altered gastric mucosal MMP-9 levels.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori gastritis is recognized as an important pathogenetic factor in peptic ulcer disease and gastric carcinogenesis, and is accompanied by strongly enhanced gastric mucosal matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels.


OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to investigate whether H. pylori-affected gastric mucosal MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels are reversible by successful treatment of the infection.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients with H. pylori-associated gastritis were treated with a combination regimen of acid inhibitory therapy and antibiotics for 14 days. The levels and isoforms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured by semiquantitative gelatin-zymography, bioactivity assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in gastric mucosal biopsy homogenates.


RESULTS
Latent, active, and total MMP-9 levels decreased consistently and significantly by successful H. pylori eradication, in antrum as well as corpus mucosa, compared with those prior to treatment, irrespective of the therapy regimen used. The elevated levels remained unchanged, however, when treatment failed. MMP-2 levels did not show major alterations after H. pylori therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated MMP-9 levels in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa are reversible by eradication of the infection. No major changes in mucosal MMP-2 levels were observed by H. pylori eradication.
Kubben
Frank J G M
FJ
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Sier
Cornelis F M
CF
Schram
Miranda T
MT
Witte
Anne M C
AM
Veenendaal
Roeland A
RA
van Duijn
Wim
W
Verheijen
Jan H
JH
Hanemaaijer
Roeland
R
Lamers
Cornelis B H W
CB
Verspaget
Hein W
HW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D011899:Ranitidine; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole