The Lewis(b) blood group antigen has been implicated as a putative receptor for Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa. Furthermore, an increased prevalence of duodenal ulcer was found in non-secretors and it has been suggested that secretor status may influence bacterial colonisation density. Other investigators have hypothesised that severity of antral gastritis may be related to colonisation density of the bacterium alone, and that a critical bacterial load is necessary for the development of duodenal ulcer. Our objectives were to investigate whether a relationship existed between host Lewis and ABO blood group phenotype and prevalence of H. pylori infection. In addition we investigated whether bacterial colonisation density and the ensuing inflammatory response was influenced by secretor status and ABO blood group phenotype. The Lewis and ABO blood group phenotype of 207 patients undergoing upper endoscopy was determined. Of these, 136 were secretors and 62 were nonsecretors. Forty-five percent of patients were infected with H. pylori. No significant association was found between H. pylori infection and expression of Lewis(a) or Lewis(b) blood group antigen. The mean histological density of H. pylori was 1.8 +/- 0.2 among non-secretors and 1.51 +/- 0.13 among secretors (P = 0.209), with a mean grade of lymphocytic infiltration significantly greater in H. pylori-infected non-secretors (2.23 +/- 0.123 vs 1.8 +/- 0.074; P = 0.003). In addition, blood group O non-secretors had a significantly higher grade of lymphocyte infiltration of their gastric mucosa compared to non-O non-secretors (2.53 +/- 0.133 vs 1.93 +/- 0.181, P = 0.027). These results suggest that although no in vivo relationship exists between H. pylori and preferential adhesion to the putative Lewis(b) receptor, bacterial colonisation and the ensuing inflammatory response may be influenced at least in part by host expression of ABO and Lewisa blood group antigens.
This study shows no firm relationship between the non-secretor state and coeliac disease, nor any difference in the distribution of HLA markers among secretor and non-secretor coeliacs. It is unlikely, therefore, that the secretor gene is the much sought-after second coeliac gene.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.