The relationship between Helicobacter pylori CagA and antral Gastrin (G) and somatostatin (D) cells in chronic gastritis patients

Abstract

Objectives: Investigate the relationship between in situ expression of Helicobacter pylori CagA and the numbers of gastrin (G-cells) and somatostatin (D-cells) in gastric tissue investigated by immunohistochemical analysis. Methods: The paraffin embedded sections for antral mucosal biopsy specimens were examined using in situ hybridization technique with probe specific for CagA and investigated the expression of gastrin (G-cells) and somatostatin (D-cells) proteins by immunohistochemistry using specific monoclonal antibodies. Results: The number of G-cells per gastric gland was significantly higher in patients infected with H.pylori compared with uninfected patients or normal mucosa subjects(p<0.01). The number of D-cells was significantly higher in uninfected patients and normal mucosa subjects patients compared with H.pylori infection (p<0.01). In patients with chronic gastritis the presence of CagA were associated with higher expression of G cell and not influence to D cell. Conclusions: the results of this study was strongly suggest that H.pylori infection induction protein expression of G-cell and reduction of protein expression of D-cells and the H.pylori positive CagA might play a role in up-regulation of the expression of G- cells but not effects on the expression of D-cells. The resulting relative hypofunction of the inhibitory action of D-cells against G-cells might be one of the reasons for the existing hypergastrinemia.