Association of peptic ulcer with increased expression of Lewis antigens but not cagA, iceA, andvacA in Helicobacter pylori isolates in an Asian population. Issue 1 (1st July 2000)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, P Y; Hua, J; Yeoh, K G; Ho, B
• Is Part Of: Gut. Volume 47:Issue 1(2000)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2000-07-01
• Subjects: Lewis blood group antigens -- cagA; iceA -- vacA; Helicobacter pylori -- peptic ulcer; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.47.1.18
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-5749

Abstract

Abstract : BACKGROUND: Studies in Western populations suggest that cagA, iceA, and vacA gene status in Helicobacter pylori isolates is associated with increased virulence and peptic ulcer disease. AIM: To investigate the relationship between peptic ulcer and expression of Lewis (Le) antigens as well as cagA, iceA, and vacA in H pylori isolates in Singapore. METHODS: Expression of Le antigens in H pylori isolates obtained from patients with dyspepsia was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The cagA, iceA, and vacA status was determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Of 108 H pylori isolates, 103 (95.4%) expressed Le x and/or Le y, while Le a and Le b were expressed in 23 (21.3%) and 47 (43.5%) isolates, respectively. Expression of two or more Le antigens (Le x, Le y, Le a, or Le b ) was significantly higher in H pylori isolated from ulcer patients than in non-ulcer patients (89.6% v 73.2%, p=0.035). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of cagA or iceA 1 in H pylori isolates from peptic ulcer and non-ulcer patients (86.6% v 90.2% for cagA ; 70.1% v 68.3% for iceA 1), and no association of peptic ulcer with any specific vacA genotype. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that peptic ulcer disease is associated with increased expression of Lewis antigens but not cagA, iceA, or vacA genotype in H pylori isolates in our population. This suggests that cagA, iceA, and vacA are not universal virulence markers, and that host-pathogen interactions are important in determining clinical outcome.