Effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on the expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric cancer.
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of Helicobacter pylori on Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. The study included 217 patients, of which 26 were uninfected; 127 had chronic gastritis and were H. pylori-positive, and 64 had gastric cancer. Bacterial genotypes were evaluated by PCR, and the expression values were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Our data showed that the up-regulationary effects of H. pylori infection on the pro-apoptotic gene, Bax, were stronger than its induction of Bcl-2; this effect may increase apoptosis in patients with chronic gastritis. In patients with gastric cancer, the up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2, counteracted the pro-apoptotic effects of Bax, leading to a deregulation of apoptosis-associated gene expression, favoring cell proliferation. Thus, the disturbance in Bax and Bcl-2 balance, induced by H. pylori, might be important in gastric cancer development.
Bartchewsky
Waldemar
W
Unidade Integrada de Farmacologia e Gastroenterologia, Universidade São Francisco, Av. São Francisco de Assis, 218. Jd. São José, Bragança Paulista, SP, Brazil.
Martini
Mariana R
MR
Squassoni
Aline C
AC
Alvarez
Marisa C
MC
Ladeira
Marcelo S P
MS
Salvatore
Daisy M F
DM
Trevisan
Miriam A
MA
Pedrazzoli
José
J
Ribeiro
Marcelo L
ML
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein