Effects of cagA+ and cagA- strains of Helicobacter pylori on the human gastric mucus layer thickness

BACKGROUND: Infection with cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) Helicobacter pylori is associated with severe gastric diseases, with contradictory views being expressed concerning the effect of H. pylori on the gastric mucus thickness. The aim of the present study was to differentiate between the effect of cagA+ and cagA- strains on gastric mucus thickness. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients without peptic ulcers who were not on medication were randomly recruited from consecutive endoscopy clinics: six biopsies (five antral, one body) were obtained from each patient. Cryostat sections (18 microm) were cut and stained using the modified periodic acid-Schiff/Alcian blue technique. Mucus thickness was measured using computer-assisted light microscopy. The H. pylori status was assessed by histology, Campylobacter-like organism (CLO)test and culture, and cagA+ status determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: There was no significant difference (P = 0.784) in mean mucus thickness between cagA+ (52.7 +/- 1.2 microm, n = 10), cagA- (46.6 +/- 1.1 microm, n = 18) or H. pylori-negative patients (51.3 +/- 1.1 microm, n = 30). In cagA- patients, mucus thickness was significantly reduced with increased H. pylori colonization density, Spearman (r(s)) = -0.805, P < 0.0001. In contrast, in cagA+ patients there was a weak positive, but not significant, association between mucus thickness and H. pylori colonization density, r(s) = 0.333, P = 0.381. CONCLUSIONS: The human gastric mucus thickness is not affected by infection with cagA+ or cagA- strains of H. pylori compared with uninfected. Although a trend of increased mucus thickness with cagA+ infection was observed.     

The Association Between cagA+ H. pylori Infection and Distal Gastric Cancer: A Proposed Model

Cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA)+ infection is associated with an increased risk of distal gastric cancer. The aim was to determine the effect of Helicobacter pylori (HP) on gastric mucus thickness, hydrophobicity, and PGE2 and their relation to colonization density. Ninety-nine patients were recruited (69 HP- and 30 HP+: 10 cagA+, 18 cagA-, 2 undetermined) and six biopsies were obtained from each patient. Mucus thickness, hydrophobicity, PGE2, and colonization density were determined. HP status was assessed by histology and culture; cagA+ was determined by PCR. In age- and sex-matched patients, PGE2 was greater in PH+ than HP- (P = 0.04), with cagA+ having higher PGE2 than HP- patients (P = 0.031). No differences were observed in mucus thickness (P = 0.717) or hydrophobicity (P = 0.27) between HP+ and HP- patients. However, cagA+ showed a nonsignificant trend of increase in mucus thickness (P = 0.784) and hydrophobicity (P = 0.30) compared to cagA- and HP- patients. cagA+ colonization density was weakly correlated with increased thickness (r = 0.333, P = 0.381), whereas cagA- density was inversely correlated with thickness (r = -0.805, P = 0.0001). A model suggesting the possible changes induced by cagA+ infection is proposed which explains the high association of cagA+ with distal gastric cancer. If supported by large multicenter studies, this could form the basis for the development of new therapies directed at the mucous layer to eradicate HP and thus reduce the risk of gastric cancer.     

Surface hydrophobicity of gastric mucosa in Helicobacter pylori infection: effect of clearance and eradication.

Surface hydrophobicity of the gastric mucosa is reduced in peptic ulcer disease and Helicobacter pylori infection. This abnormality may be caused by H. pylori or may be an inherent defect. The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship between H. pylori infection and mucosal hydrophobicity by examining the effect of eradication of the organism. H. pylori-positive patients with (n = 42) or without (n = 42) duodenal ulcer were randomized to receive ranitidine, bismuth, or bismuth plus antibiotics. Surface hydrophobicity of gastric mucosa was assessed by measurement of plateau-advancing contact angle. Measurements were performed at presentation, end of treatment, and 1 month later. Contact angle was unchanged after ranitidine (55 degrees vs. 56 degrees) but increased with bismuth (57 degrees-62 degrees; P < 0.05) and bismuth plus antibiotics (56 degrees-67 degrees; P < 0.0001). One month after treatment ended, contact angles in patients in whom H. pylori was not eradicated were not different from those before treatment (56 degrees vs. 56 degrees) but increased to a value similar to H. pylori-negative controls in patients in whom H. pylori was eradicated (56 degrees-69 degrees; P < 0.0001). It is concluded that reduced mucosal hydrophobicity in peptic ulcer disease is secondary to H. pylori infection and that this impaired mucosal defense provides a possible mechanism whereby H. pylori infection predisposes to acid/peptic digestion.     

广东地区幽门螺杆菌cagA基因与细菌定植及其致病性关系的研究

目的：分析广东地区细胞毒素相关基因（cagA）在幽门螺杆菌（H.pylori)中的分布情况及其与患者性别、年龄的关系；探讨H.pylori cagA在不同胃肠疾病发生中的作用及其与胃粘膜慢性炎症程度及H.pylori定植密度的关系。方法：采用改良Skirrow培养基分离培养得到191株H.pylori，用特定引物对各株细菌的cagA 3′端行聚合酶链反应（PCR）扩增鉴定；对其中83例患者再各取胃窦粘膜2块，经HE及Giemsa染色后观察胃粘膜慢性炎症程度及H.pylori定植密度。结果：广东地区H.pylori cagA阳性者占85.3%(163/191)；H.pylori cagA阳性率与患者的性别、年龄无关；消化性溃疡及胃癌患者的H.pylori cagA阳性率显著高于慢性胃炎患者；cagA阳性H.pylori菌株在胃粘膜表面的定植密度较cagA阴性菌株更高，引起的胃粘膜慢性炎症也更为严重；H.pylori的定植密度与其引起的慢性炎症程度呈正相关。结论：广东地区cagA阳性H.pylori感染者占绝大多数；cagA阳性菌株较cagA阴性菌株具有更强的致病力，可能引起更为严重的胃肠道损害。     

Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on expression of Bcl-2 family members in gastric adenocarcinoma

AIM: To investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection on the expressions of Bcl-2 family members in gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Gastric adenocarcinoma and resection margin tissues of 95 patients were studied. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to measure Bid, Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expressions. RESULTS: Expressions of Bid and Bax in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues without H pylori infection, with cagA- H pylori infection and cagA+ H pylori infection increased significantly in turn (Bid, 0.304, 0.422 and 0.855 respectively, P<0.05; Bax, 0.309, 0.650 and 0.979 respectively, P<0.05). Bcl-2 mRNA levels increased significantly in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues with cagA- H pylori infection and cagA+ H pylori infection, compared with those without H pylori infection (0.696 and 0.849 vs 0.411, P<0.05). Expressions of Bid, Bax and Bcl-2 in resection margin tissues without H pylori infection, with cagA- H pylori infection and cagA+ H pylori infection increased significantly in turn (Bid, 0.377, 0.686 and 0.939 respectively, P<0.05; Bax, 0.353, 0.645 and 1.001 respectively, P<0.05; Bcl-2, 0.371, 0.487 and 0.619 respectively, P<0.05). In H pylori negative specimens, expressions of Bid and Bax correlated negatively with that of Bcl-2 respectively in adenocarcinoma tissues (Bid vs Bcl-2, r=-0.409, P<0.05; Bax vs Bcl-2, r=-0.451, P<0.05). In H pylori positive specimens, expressions of Bid and Bax did not correlate with that of Bcl-2 in adenocarcinoma tissues (Bid vs Bcl-2, r=0.187, P>0.05; Bax vs Bcl-2, r=0.201, P>0.05), but correlated positively with that of Bcl-2 respectively in resection margin tissues (Bid vs Bcl-2, r=0.331, P<0.05; Bax vs Bcl-2, r=0.295, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: H pylori may enhance Bid, Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA levels and cause deregulation of these apoptosis-associated genes expressions, which may play a role during development of gastric adenocarcinoma induced by H pylori.     

Direct measurement of gastric H^＋／K^＋-ATPase activities in patients with or without Helicobacterpylori-associated chronic gastritis

AIM: The role of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection in gastric acid secretion of patients with chronic gastritis remains controversial. This study was designed to elucidate the effect of H pylori on H+/K+-ATPase activities in gastric biopsy specimens. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with chronic gastritis who had undergone upper endoscopy were included in this study. H pylori infection was confirmed by rapid urease test and histology. Gastric H+/K+-ATPase activities and serum gastrin concentrations were measured by an enzymatic method and radioimmunoassay, respectively. For those patients who received triple therapy for eradicating H pylori, changes in the activity of gastric H+/K+-ATPase and serum gastrin levels were also measured. RESULTS: The mean gastric H+/K+-ATPase activity in Hpylori-positive group (42 patients) was slightly higher than that in Hpylori-negative group (29 patients) (169.65±52.9 and 161.38±43.85nmol P/(mg·h),respectively, P=0.301). After eradication of H pylori, the gastric H+/K+-ATPase activities slightly decreased compared to prior therapy (165.03±59.50 and 158.42±38.93 nmol P/(mg·h), respectively, P=0.805). The mean basal gastrin concentration was slightly higher in H pylori-positive patients than in H pylori-negative patients (87.92±39.65 pg/mL vs75.04±42.57 pg/mL, P= 0.228). The gastrin levels fell significantly after the eradication of H pylori. (Before treatment 87.00±30.78 pg/mL, after treatment 64.73±18.96 pg/mL, P=0.015). CONCLUSION: Gastric H+/K+-ATPase activities are not associated with H pylori status in patients with chronic gastritis.     

Significance of cagA status and vacA subtypes of Helicobacter pylori in determining gastric histopathology: virulence markers of H. pylori and histopathology

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that Helicobacter pylori strains containing the cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA), and s1m1 genotype of vacuolating cytotoxin gene A (vacA) may have been associated with peptic ulcer disease. The aim of the present study was to analyze such an association of cagA presence and vacA subtypes of H. pylori with histopathological findings in patients with gastritis. METHODS: Sixty-five independent H. pylori strains isolated from Turkish patients with gastritis were analyzed. The antral biopsy specimens were processed for culture and histopathology. Histopathological features were recorded and graded according to updated Sydney system. The vacA subtypes and cagA gene were tested by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Mild degree of antral density was associated with mild degree of gastric neutrophil infiltration (P = 0.010). Positive cagA status correlated significantly with the presence of atrophy (P = 0.035) and neutrophil infiltration (P < 0.001), but not with H. pylori density (P = 0.754) nor the degree of mononuclear cell infiltration (P = 0.945). The vacA subtypes were independent of gastric histopathology. The odds ratios for atrophy and neutrophil infiltration of cagA+ versus cagA- strains were 3.62 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-12.66) and 53.18 (95%CI: 11.08-255.23), respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of the cagA gene is strongly associated with atrophic and active gastritis. Distinct vacA subtypes of H. pylori appear to have no association with histopathological findings of gastritis.     

Relation of CagA seropositivity to cagPAI phenotype and histological grade of gastritis in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection

AIM: Infection with Helicobacter pylori(H pylori) possessing the cag pathogenicity island (PAI) has been associated with severe clinical outcome and CagA-antibody has been used to indicate cagPAI-positive infection. The aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of CagA seropositivity to indicate the virulence of the cagPAI in Japan. METHODS: Sixty isolates of H pylori cultured from gastric biopsies were examined by polymerase chain reaction assays for the presence of cagA, cagE and VirD4. Anti CagA IgG antibody in matching sera was tested by both ELISA and immunoblot assay. Histological grade of gastritis was graded according to the updated Sydney System. RESULTS: Amongst 53 patients infected with cagA+/cagE+/ VirD4+ strain, 38 were CagA seropositive. There were four patients infected with strains possessing incomplete cagPAI. Two out of three patients with cagA+/cagE-/VirD4- infection were CagA seropositive, while a patient with cagA-/cagE+/ VirD4+ infection was CagA seronegative. Accuracy of ELJSA to predict bacterial possession of cagA was 61.7% whereas 58.3% for cagE and VirD4. The immunoblot assay showed relatively higher sensitivity and showed better accuracy. The lower grade of gastric mucosal inflammatory infiltration was seen in false CagA-seronegative patients. CONCLUSION: Some serodiagnosis does not seem to have enough accuracy to indicate virulence of cagPAI, particularly in infection of strains with incomplete cagPAI. The degree of gastric mucosal inflammation may affect the results of CagA serodiagnosis.     

幽门螺杆菌感染对Fas/FasL表达的影响在胃癌发生中的作用

目的：观察幽门螺杆菌（Hp）及其不同毒力株（cagA阳性与cagA阴性株）感染对胃黏膜上皮细胞Fas/FasL表达的影响，进而探讨胃癌的发生机制。方法：胃镜下取胃窦黏膜标本，将研究对象按病理结果分为黏膜萎缩组，黏膜萎缩伴轻度不典型增生组，黏膜萎缩伴中度不典型增生组，胃腺癌组，黏膜大致正常组为对照组，再根据Hp感染情况为分Hp阳性组与阴性组，并将Hp阳性组进一步成cagA阳性组及阴性组，共9组80例。以快速尿素酶试验，PCR及组织学第三种方法检测Hp，用PCR方法对Hp进行分型。用免疫组化法检测Fas、FasL等表达情况。结果Hp感染率为60．0％，cagA阳性率为90．47％，非腺癌病人Hp阳性组Fas/FasL表达明显高于Hp阴性组（P＜0．05），腺癌组Fas/FasL表达明显高于大致正常组及黏膜萎缩，黏膜萎缩伴轻度不典型增生，黏萎缩伴中度不典型增生组（P＜0．01）。cagA阳性组Fas/FasL表达与cagA阴性组差异无显著性（P＞0．05）。结论：幽门螺杆菌感染后早期即黏 萎缩阶段已出现Fas、FasL等的表达增加，随细胞凋亡的增加，黏膜上皮细胞萎缩加重，细胞DNA不稳定性增加，并出现不典型增生加重， Fas、FasL的表达随之增强，一旦肿瘤细胞形成，Fas/FasL表达进一步增加，形成局部免疫豁免区，导致肿瘤的浸润生长。cagA阳性的菌株在促成肿瘤的发生过程中无明显作用。     

CagA-positive strains of Helicobacter pylori may protect against Barrett's esophagus

OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and adenocarcinoma of the distal stomach. However, the role of H. pylori strain variation in complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease, especially Barrett's esophagus, is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of colonization by cagA+ and cagA- H. pylori strains in the spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux disease, including Barrett's esophagus. METHODS: A total of 251 patients undergoing endoscopy were categorized into four groups: controls, patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease alone, and patients with short- and long-segment Barrett's esophagus. All patients underwent upper endoscopies with biopsies and serum collections. H. pylori and degree of mucosal inflammation in gastric biopsies were assessed and serological assessment made for H. pylori and cagA status. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori colonization in the study population was 35% (95% confidence interval = 29.5-41.4%) which did not differ significantly among the groups. However, colonization by cagA+ H. pylori strains was significantly more prevalent among controls (11/25; 44%) and patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (13/36; 36%) than in patients with short-segment (2/10; 20%) or long-segment Barrett's esophagus (0/18; 0%). Patients with Barrett's esophagus were less likely to be colonized by cagA+ H. pylori strains than reflux patients without Barrett's esophagus (odds ratio = 0.27, 95% confidence interval = 0.11-0.67, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Colonization by cagA+ H. pylori strains may be protective against the formation of short- and long-segment Barrett's esophagus and its malignant complications.     

Relation between clinical presentation, Helicobacter pylori density, interleukin 1beta and 8 production, and cagA status

BACKGROUND: It is not known whether cagA+ Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer (DU) have enhanced virulence compared with non-DU cagA+ H pylori. AIMS: To investigate the relation between presentation, H pylori density, interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-8 production, and cagA status. METHODS: Fifty DU and 50 gastritis patients with cagA+ H pylori and 11 with cagA- infections were studied. Bacterial density and cytokine production were assessed using the same biopsies. Cytokine production was also measured from supernatants of medium following coculture of H pylori with MKN-45 cells. RESULTS: There was no relation between H pylori density and cagA status. There was a dose dependent relation between mucosal cytokine levels and density of cagA+ H pylori. H pylori density increased to a threshold, followed by a rapid increase in cytokines and then a plateau. IL-1beta and IL-8 levels in the antrum were greater in DU than in gastritis; in the corpus the cytokine level/H pylori differed irrespective of similar H pylori densities. However, cytokine production was similar in vitro, independent of presentation or biopsy site, suggesting that host factors are critical determinants of the inflammatory response. Mucosal IL-8 and IL-1beta levels were low with cagA- and cagA+, cagE- H pylori infections. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in antral IL-1beta and IL-8 production and inflammation in DU is related to increased numbers of bacteria and not to an increase in cytokine production per cagA+ isolate. There was no evidence of enhanced virulence of H pylori from DU compared with cagA+ non-DU H pylori.     

Detection and location of Helicobacter pylori in human gastric carcinomas

AIM: To define the infection status of Helicobacter pylori in 109 patients with gastric cancers and H pylori localization in gastric carcinoma tissues in South China. METHODS: The incidence of H pylori infection in gastric carcinomas was estimated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), simultaneously; both morphological features and the localization of H pylori in gastric carcinomas were demonstrated by Warthin-Starry (WS) staining. The relationships between H pylori infection and the clinical-pathologic factors of gastric carcinomas were analyzed by software SPSS10.0. RESULTS: H pylori was found in 42 (39.03%) and 58 (53.21%) cases of 109 patients with gastric carcinomas by PCR and WS, respectively. H pylori infection rate detected in gastric carcinomas by WS was higher than that by PCR (X2=9.735, P<0.005<0.01). WS stain showed that H pylori existed in the gastric antrum mucus, mucosal gland of normal tissues adjacent to gastric carcinomas and the gland, mucus pool of cancer tissues. The positive rate of H pylori in normal tissues adjacent to carcinomas was higher than that in cancer tissues (X2=15.750, P<0.005 <0.01). No significant differences in age, sex, site, histological types and lymph node metastasis were found between H pylori-positive gastric carcinomas and H pylori-negative cases by both methods, but there were statistically significant differences of H pylori positive rate between early and advanced stage of gastric carcinomas (X2= 4.548 or 5.922, P= 0.033 or 0.015<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that H pylori infection might play a certain role in the early stage of carcinogenesis of human gastric mucosa epithelia.     

Gastric epithelial cell proliferation and cagA status in Helicobacter pylori gastritis at different gastric sites

OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori infection causes hyperproliferation which is believed to predispose to the development of gastric carcinoma. The aim of this study was to analyze epithelial cell proliferation topographically in H. pylori gastritis in relationship to cagA status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The proliferative index (PI: Ki-67-labeled nuclei/total number of foveolar nuclei) was determined in gastric mucosa biopsies taken at the antrum (lesser and greater curvatures), incisura, and corpus (greater curvature) from 78 patients with H. pylori gastritis and 20 H. pylori-negative patients. H. pylori and cagA status were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology. RESULTS: PIs were significantly higher in H. pylori- and cagA-positive patients, in comparison with H. pylori- and cagA-negative patients, at all sites (p相似文献   

Helicobacter pylori infection influences tumor growth of human gastric carcinomas

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is considered a risk factor for gastric carcinoma. However, the effect of eradication therapy in gastric carcinoma patients is not well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between H. pylori infection and tumor growth of gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with gastric carcinoma participated in the study. Thirty-three were H. pylori-positive, 6 were H. pylori-negative, and 12 were diagnosed with gastric carcinoma after eradication of H. pylori. To investigate tumor growth of gastric carcinoma, cell proliferation and angiogenesis of the tumors were evaluated by immunohistochemical techniques using Ki-67 and CD34. RESULTS: The Ki-67 labeling index was 47.9 +/- 2.6 (mean +/- s) in the H. pylori-positive group, 38.1 +/- 3.6 in the H. pylori-eradicated group, and 22.2 +/- 5.5 in the H. pylori-negative group. It was significantly lower in the H. pylori-eradicated and H. pylori-negative groups than in the H. pylori-positive one, and a significant difference was also found between the H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-eradicated groups. The microvessel counts were 62.5 +/- 3.0, 50.2 +/- 4.0, and 66.0 +/- 9.8 in the positive, eradicated, and negative groups, respectively. A significant difference was found between the H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-eradicated groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that H. pylori infection is associated with cell proliferation, and its eradication may influence tumor vascularity of gastric carcinoma. Therefore, H. pylori eradication therapy may contribute to the suppression of tumor growth.     

细胞毒素相关抗原(cagA)基因在中国人幽门螺杆菌中的分布及其临床意义

目的研究细胞毒素相关抗原（ｃａｇＡ）基因在幽门螺杆菌（Ｈｐ）菌株中的分布，从而明确中国人感染Ｈｐ菌株的毒力状况。方法采用特异性引物扩增ＨｐｃａｇＡ基因的２９７ｂｐ片段，对７４个临床分离Ｈｐ菌株采用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）进行分型。同时收集患者的胃镜诊断及胃窦病理资料。结果９０．５％的Ｈｐ菌株含有ｃａｇＡ基因，其中消化性溃疡（ＰＵ）患者感染菌株ｃａｇＡ基因携带率（９４．９％）高于慢性胃炎患者（８５．７％），但二者差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５）。病理资料显示，Ⅰ、Ⅱ型菌株均可引起胃窦的慢性炎症，但严重程度Ⅱ型菌株（ｃａｇＡ－）高于Ⅰ型（ｃａｇＡ＋，Ｐ＜０．０５），二者在致活动性胃炎、肠上皮化生、胃粘膜萎缩及淋巴滤泡形成方面比较，差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论中国人感染ＨｐⅠ型菌株比例较西方国家高，但ｃａｇＡ基因尚不能作为区分Ｈｐ感染致不同胃肠道疾病的单一指标。     

Helicobacter pylori density and cagA status in cirrhotic patients: a case-control study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Despite a similar Helicobacter pylori prevalence, peptic ulcer is more frequent in cirrhotic patients than in controls. We evaluated whether cirrhotic patients had an increased bacterial density and/or a higher prevalence of H. pylori cagA-positive strains than controls. METHODS: A total of 36 dyspeptic cirrhotic patients with H. pylori infection and 72 matched controls were enrolled. H. pylori infection was detected at histology on Giemsa staining, bacterial density was assessed using difference over baseline (DOB) values at 13C urea breath test, and cagA status was established at serology. RESULTS: Overall, both DOB values and prevalence of cagA did not significantly differ between cirrhotic patients and controls. However, peptic ulcer controls showed significantly higher DOB value (27.9 +/- 17.4 vs 19.4 +/- 9.3, respectively; P = 0.009) and cagA positive rate (85%vs 48%; P = 0.01) than non-ulcer dyspepsia patients. Although not statistically significant, a similar trend was observed in cirrhotic patients with peptic ulcer for DOB values (26.5 +/- 16.3 vs 18.3/1000 +/- 9.2, respectively; P = 0.07), whereas the cagA-positive rate was similar between peptic ulcer and non-ulcer dyspepsia patients (60%vs 50%; P = 0.30). CONCLUSIONS: The present data showed that both bacterial density and cagA prevalence did not differ between cirrhotic patients and controls.     

Gastric acid secretion of normal Japanese subjects in relation to Helicobacter pylori infection, aging, and gender

BACKGROUND: In Japan, where the incidence of gastric cancer is high, Helicobacter pylori infection could affect gastric acid secretion differently from that in Western countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between H. pylori infection, acid secretion, aging, and gender in normal Japanese subjects. METHODS: The study comprised 193 Japanese subjects who had undergone routine endoscopy. Gastrin-stimulated acid output was performed during the routine endoscopic examination using the endoscopic method of gastric acid secretory testing (EGT: endoscopic gastrin test), which has been reported previously. H. pylori status was determined by histology, rapid urease test, and serology. RESULTS: Mean EGT values were 3.9 +/- 1.5 mEq/10 min in H. pylori-negative men, 1.6 +/- 2.5 in H. pylori-positive men, 2.2 +/- 0.9 in H. pylori-negative women, and 1.5 +/- 1.2 in H. pylori-positive women. Although acid secretion was lower in H. pylori-positive subjects compared with H. pylori-negative subjects in both men and women, the decrease was more marked in men with H. pylori infection. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that aging is positively associated with gastric acid secretion in the H. pylori-negative subjects, whereas a negative association was found between them in the H. pylori-positive subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In Japanese subjects, aging affects gastric acid secretion differently depending on the status of H. pylori infection. H. pylori infection showed a stronger inhibitory effect on the acid secretion in men than in women. This gender-related difference in the susceptibility of acid secretion to H. pylori infection may explain the higher rates of gastric cancer in men in Japan.