title: The EGFR expression in gastric mucosa of children infected with Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) modulates balance between proliferation and apoptosis in gastric mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of the study was to evaluate immunohistochemically the EGFR expression in epithelial and gland cells of antral mucosa in children infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 44 children, aged from 5 to 18 years (mean age 13+/-3.4 years) with dyspeptic symptoms, of whom 30 (68.2%) children were infected with H. pylori, 14 (31.8%) children constituted controls. Endoscopic and histopathological assessment of antral mucosa samples was performed according to the Sydney System. Samples taken from gastroscopy were prepared to evaluate EGFR expression in epithelial and gland cells of antrum mucosa according to the manual of a detection kit of EnVision+System-HRP (DAKO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In children H. pylori infected, the EGFR expression in epithelial cells of antral mucosa equaled on average 82.5+/-15 cells/mm2 and ranged from 45.0 to 98.0 cells/mm2 as well as differed statistically significantly when compared to controls (10.2+/-5.0 cells/mm2) (p<0.001). In children with H. pylori infection, the EGFR expression in gland cells of antral mucosa ranged from 2.0 to 85.0 cells/mm2 (mean 25.7+/-22.6 cells/mm2); was lower and differed statistically significantly from controls (54.2 +/- 29.6 cells/mm2) (p<0.001). In children H. pylori infected, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) between the EGFR expression in epithelial and in gland cells of antral mucosa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased EGFR expression in epithelial cells in comparison with gland cells of antral mucosa in children with H. pylori infection may suggest its role in regeneration processes of gastric mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nursing, Medical University of Białystok, Poland. emaciorkowska@o2.pl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maciorkowska
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guzińska-Ustymowicz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ryszczuk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kemona
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaczmarski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000382:microbiology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000382:microbiology; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors