title: Pathophysiological investigation of the gastric surface mucous gel layer of patients with Helicobacter pylori infection by using immunoassays for trefoil factor family 2 and gastric gland mucous cell-type mucin in gastric juice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The trefoil factor family (TFF) 2 protein is produced by gastric gland mucous cells (GMCs), and the secreted TFF2 shares a mucosal barrier function with GMC-type mucin. Recently, we presented an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for measurement of GMC-type mucin in the gastric juice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to develop an ELISA for TFF2 and to assess pathophysiological changes in the gastric surface mucous gel layer (SMGL) of patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The distribution of TFF2 and GMC-type mucin in the SMGL was immunohistochemically determined. The ELISA for TFF2 was based on a polyclonal goat antibody. Recombinant TFF2 was employed to prepare the calibrators. TFF2 and GMC-type mucin in the gastric juice in healthy individuals (n = 33) and patients with gastritis (n = 37), gastric ulcer (n = 16), and duodenal ulcer (n = 10) were assayed using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TFF2 and GMC-type mucin were immunohistochemically co-localized in the gastric SMGL and GMCs. The TFF2 levels in the patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy individuals. Further, the TFF2 levels in the H. pylori-positive patients were significantly higher than those in the H. pylori-negative patients, and decreased after the eradication of the infection. GMC-type mucin levels showed a tendency similar to that of TFF2 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The upregulation of TFF2 and GMC-type mucin secretion may reflect the response of the gastric mucosa to H. pylori-induced injuries. TFF2 and GMC-type mucin secreted into the SMGL may protect the gastric mucosa against H. pylori.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shinshu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan. seikok@shinshu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Mitsutoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugano
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuzawa
authors.forename: Taiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akamatsu
authors.forename: Yasukazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohmoto
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ota
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry*; D005752:Gastric Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2
chemical_list: D005752:Gastric Mucins; D010455:Peptides; C000604007:TFF2 protein, human; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2