Helicobacter pylori infection can change the intensity of gastric Lewis antigen expressions differently between adults and children

Abstract

This study tested whether there were different expressions of gastric Lewis antigens between children and adults with Helicobacter pylori infection, and whether the difference was related to the infection outcome. About 68 dyspeptic children and 110 dyspeptic adults were enrolled to check H. pylori infection, its colonization density, and the related histology. Gastric Lewis antigens b (Le(b)), x (Le(x)), and sialyl-Lewis x (sialyl-Le(x)) were immunohistochemically stained and scored for the intensity. The H. pylori-infected adults, but not the children, had a lower Le(b) intensity over the antrum (p=0.019) but higher Le(b) intensity over the corpus (p=0.001) than the non-infected ones. Over the antrum, both the H. pylori-infected children and adults had a lower Le(x) and higher sialyl-Le(x) intensity than those non-infected ones (p<0.05). The H. pylori-infected adults had a higher bacterial density (p=0.004) and Le(b) intensity (p=0.016) over the corpus than the H. pylori-infected children. For the H. pylori-infected adults, but not children, the corpus had a higher Le(b) (p=0.038) and lower Le(x) (p=0.005) intensity than the antrum. Furthermore, the H. pylori-infected adults expressed a higher Le(b) and had a higher bacterial density than those with weak Le(b) (antrum, p<0.001; corpus, p=0.001). In conclusion, H. pylori infection is associated with the intensity change of Lewis antigen expressions in the stomach. The changes of gastric Lewis antigen expressions are different between adults and children with H. pylori infection, which may exert different H. pylori colonization over the corpus between adults and children.

Helicobacter pylori isolates from Greek children express type 2 and type 1 Lewis and α1,6-glucan antigens in conjunction with a functional type IV secretion system

“…In both instances, the expression of Le antigens was associated with H. pylori isolates from younger children and disappeared with age. These results are consistent with previous observations that changes in gastric Le expression are different between adults and children and that the H. pylori-infected adults, but not the children, had a lower Le b intensity over the antrum but higher intensity over the corpus than non-infected ones, as shown by immunohistochemical staining of gastric biopsies (Yang et al, 2008). Furthermore, H. pylori-infected adults expressed higher levels of Le b and had a higher bacterial density in both antrum and corpus as compared with those with weak Le b intensity (Yang et al, 2008).…”

“…These results are consistent with previous observations that changes in gastric Le expression are different between adults and children and that the H. pylori-infected adults, but not the children, had a lower Le b intensity over the antrum but higher intensity over the corpus than non-infected ones, as shown by immunohistochemical staining of gastric biopsies (Yang et al, 2008). Furthermore, H. pylori-infected adults expressed higher levels of Le b and had a higher bacterial density in both antrum and corpus as compared with those with weak Le b intensity (Yang et al, 2008). Two of the examined strains, 77-2 and 77-5, represented different isolates from the same patient; both strains exhibited similar expression levels of a1,6-glucan as determined by WCE and had similar LPS patterns as determined by silver staining, although they have been shown to express CagA protein with different numbers of EPIYA motifs (Sgouras et al, 2009).…”

“…Four out of six H. pylori isolates from children experiencing vomiting were non-typable and one out of the six strains expressed Le b exclusively. It has been previously shown that a higher intensity of gastric Le b expression over the corpus could be correlated with an increased risk of ulcers in children (Yang et al, 2008). More studies are needed to confirm the association between the expression of the Le b phenotype and H. pylori infection in children.…”

Probiotics‐Containing Yogurts Suppress Helicobacter pylori Load and Modify Immune Response and Intestinal Microbiota in the Helicobacter pylori‐Infected Children

“…In adults, the presence of gastric IgA‐secreting cells is dependent on the high pH value of gastric juice, occurring after the corpus atrophy [32]. In contrast, the childhood H. pylori infection rarely causes corpus atrophy and has not disturbed the gastric acid secretion [33]. Besides the pH effect in stomach, the direct probiotics effect may account for the finding in our study, as they may stimulate a subtle inflammation in intestine to elevate the secretion of mucosal IgA into serum [34,35].…”

Persistent H. pylori colonization in early acquisition age of mice related with higher gastric sialylated Lewis x, IL-10, but lower interferon-γ expressions

“…The other sialic acid-binding adhesin (SabA) of H. pylori binds to the gastric sialylated Lewis x antigen (sialyl-Le x ) alternatively assisting the persistent colonization after chronic inflammation [ 10 ], and especially becomes important when the Le b antigen of the host is absent or weak [ 11 ]. Our recent study disclosed that H. pylori -infected children had a significant increase of sialyl-Le x , but not Le b expression [ 12 ]. It is thus interesting to check whether the persistence of the early acquisition of H. pylori in childhood could be related with the variable host responses of gastric inflammation or of epithelial sialylation to adapt the SabA of H. pylori .…”