Analysis of Immunoglobulin A Antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in Serum and Gastric Juice in Relation to Mucosal Inflammation

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a major etiologic agent in gastroduodenal disorders. In this study, immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to H. pylori antigens were evaluated in serum and gastric juice specimens obtained from patients with gastritis or peptic ulcers by utilizing antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ACELISAs). Urease α subunit (UA), urease β subunit (UB), the 66-kDa heat shock protein (HSP), and the 25-kDa protein (25K) were used as antigens for the ACELISAs. The antibody titers of the ACELISAs reflect the ratio of H. pylori-specific IgA to total IgA. The ratio is stable, although the antibody concentration fluctuates in gastric juice. By using ACELISAs it was possible to evaluate quantitatively not only serum IgA antibodies but also gastric juice secretory IgA (S-IgA) antibodies. In both serum IgA and gastric juice S-IgA ACELISAs, the titers of antibody to HSP and 25K were remarkably correlated with the histologic grade of gastritis, whereas those to UA and UB were not strongly correlated with histologic grade. Thus, it is useful for estimating the histologic grade of gastritis to quantify serum IgA and gastric juice S-IgA antibodies to HSP and 25K.

Immune Response to a 26‐kDa Protein, Alkyl Hydroperoxide Reductase, in Helicobacter pylori‐Infected Mongolian Gerbil Model

“…We have reported the serum immunoglobulin G immune reaction to H. pylori crude antigens in gerbil models with the early and advanced stages of H. pylori infection [20]. The results with gerbils appear to correlate with results obtained from humans [13,14,23]. The antibody response in-patient with H. pylori infection includes a response to high-molecular proteins (110/120 kDa), medium-size proteins (43-66 kDa) and low-molecular-mass proteins (26,29,30,31 and 33 kDa).…”

“…In recent years, serological studies have shown that patients with H. pylori infection develop elevated levels of specific anti-H. pylori antibodies, and several antigens specific for H. pylori have been identified [11][12][13][14][15]. Using serum from the H. pylori -infected Mongolian gerbils model [16,17], which mimics human disease [18,19], we have reported the serum immune response and screened for H. pylori antigens [20] in this model.…”

Mucosal Production of Antigastric Autoantibodies in Helicobacter pylori Gastritis

“…So far, only a limited number of studies have focused on the local humoral immune response against H. pylori [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. The presence and relevance of locally produced antigastric autoantibodies in H. pylori gastritis have not been investigated.…”

Helicobacter pylori heat-shock protein 60 induces production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL8 in monocytic cells

“…H. pylori seems to bind to gastric epithelial cells and mucin via HSP60 (Huesca et al, 1996), and adaptive immunity to HSP60 was induced in H. pylori-infected patients (Hayashi et al, 1998;Sharma et al, 1997). We reported previously that development of lymphoid tissue in patients with MALT lymphoma was associated with HSP60 (Kobayashi et al, 1998).…”