title: [Helicobacter pylori infection and changes of cell gap junction of gastric epithelial cells in patients with gastric cancer and precancerous lesion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the changes of cell gap junction ultrastructure of gastric epithelial cells in patients with gastric cancer(GC) and precancerous lesion(PL),and to investigate the relation between these changes and H.pylori infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients with GC, 88 with PL, and 33 with chronic superfial gastritis (CSG) were studied. H.pylori was detected by rapid urease test,basic fuchsin stain and 14C-urea breath test. The CagA gene of H.pylori was determined by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).The cell gap junction ultrastructure was observed under transmission electronic microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Length of junction/unit perimeter of gastric epithelial cells in patients with PL was smaller than that in CSG patients, and the smallest width of the intercellular space was bigger than that in CSG patients. The number of cell junction, the number of junction/unit perimeter, and the length of junction/unit perimeter in patients with GC were all smaller than those in patients with CSG or PL, and its smallest width of the intercellular space was bigger than that in patients with CSG. In patients with GC, the number of cell junction, the number of junction/unit perimeter and the length of junction/unit perimeter in CagA+ H.pylori group were smaller than those in CagA(-) H.pylori group, and its smallest width of the intercellular space was bigger than that in CagA(-) H.pylori group. In PL patients, the intercellular space decreased, and the length of cell junction of gastric epithelial cells became bigger after H.pylori eradication. The length of junction/unit perimeter in patients of H.pylori eradication was bigger than that in patients without eradication, and the smallest width of the intercellular space was smaller than that in patients without eradication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The changes of cell gap junction of gastric epithelial cells in patients with GC and PL are associated with H.pylori infection especially CagA+ H.pylori infection. Eradication of H.pylori can promote the formation of cell junction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Can-xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Wen-bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hui-fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shou-rong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure