EGFR and Bcl-2 in gastric mucosa of children infected with Helicobacter pylori.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of EGFR and Bcl-2 proteins as inhibitory markers of apoptosis in surface epithelial cells and gland cells of antral gastric mucosa in children infected with Helicobacter pylori according to the severity and activity of antral gastritis and to assess the correlation between the number of cells expressing EGFR and the number of cells expressing Bcl-2 in H. pylori infected children.


METHODS
The study included 44 children: 68.2% with chronic gastritis and positive IgG against H. pylori, and 31.8% with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and with normal IgG against H. pylori. The evaluation of EGFR expression in gastric mucosa was performed immunohistochemically using monoclonal mouse anti-EGFR antibody. The polyclonal antibody was used to determine the expression of anti-Bcl-2.


RESULTS
A significant increase in the number of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 protein was found in the epithelial cells in severe as well as mild and moderate gastritis in the group of children infected with H. pylori. An increase in the number of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 protein was also found in the epithelial cells in group I according to the activity of gastritis. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the numbers of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 in H. pylori infected children.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased expression of EGFR and Bcl-2 proteins in the epithelial cells and a statistically significant positive correlation between the numbers of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 in H. pylori infected children could suggest increased regeneration abilities of gastric mucosa.
Department of Developmental Age Medicine and Pediatric Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
Ewa
E
Ryszczuk
Department of Developmental Age Medicine and Pediatric Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
Izabela
I
Roszko-Kirpsza
Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Guzińska-Ustymowicz
Department of Developmental Age Medicine and Pediatric Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
Beata Janina
BJ
Olejnik
Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Allergology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
Maciej Gustaw
MG
Kaczmarski
Department of Developmental Age Medicine and Pediatric Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
Elżbieta
E
Maciorkowska
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002648:Child; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000378:metabolism
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors