title: Longitudinal analysis of serological responses of adults to Helicobacter pylori antigens.
abstract: Because Helicobacter pylori persist for decades in the human stomach, the aim of this study was to examine the long-term course of H. pylori-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses with respect to subclass and antigenic target. We studied paired serum samples obtained in 1973 and in 1994 in Vammala, Finland, from 64 healthy H. pylori-positive adults and from other healthy control subjects. H. pylori serum immunoglobulin A, IgG, and IgG subclass responses were determined by antigen-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. H. pylori-specific IgG1 and IgG4 subtype responses from 47 subjects were similar in 1973 and 1994, but not when compared with unrelated persons. H. pylori-specific IgG1:IgG4 ratios among the participants varied >1000-fold; however, 57 (89.1%) of 64 subjects had an IgG1:IgG4 ratio >1.0, consistent with a predominant IgG1 (Th1) response. Furthermore, ratios in individual hosts were stable over the 21-year period (r = 0.56; P < .001). The immune response to heat shock protein HspA was unchanged in 49 (77%) of the 64 subjects tested; of the 15 whose serostatus changed, all seroconverted and were significantly younger than those whose status did not change. These findings indicate that H. pylori-specific antibody responses are host-specific with IgG1:IgG4 ratios stable over 21 years, IgG1 responses predominating, and HspA seroconversion with aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. perezg02@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Guillermo I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Perez-Perez
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Maw
authors.forename: Lani
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feingold-Link
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunn
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minano
authors.forename: Hilpi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rautelin
authors.forename: Timo U
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Kosunen
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blaser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; C113725:HspA protein, bacteria; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G