Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with aberrant expression of trefoil family factor 2 and mucin 6 in gastric antrum, incisura and body

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Trefoil family factors (TFF), a group of small secretory peptides, and mucins, the major components of the mucous viscous gel coveting the epithelial surface, play an important r01e in mucosal defense and healing. H. pylori infection causes gastric mucosal inflammation and injury-. This study aimed to determine whether H. pylori infection is associated with altered expression of TFF2 and MUC6 in gastric mucosa. METHOD: Gastric biopsy specimens taken from gastric antrum, incisura and body were used for the detection of H. pylori infection and histological assessment, Expression of TFF2 and MUC6 was determined by immunohistochemistry, RESULTS: Of the 76 patients recruited, 27 (355%) were positive for H. pylori infection Chrome gastritis was present in 26 (96,3%) H. pylori positive patients and 7 (14.3%) H pylori negative patients (P < 0.001). In all 42 (100% patients with normal mucosa tie. without H. pylori and chronic gastritis), TFF2 and MUC6 were coordinately expressed in regenerative zone and deep portion of glands of antral mucosa, and only in the regenerative zone of gastric incisura and body mucosa. However, in patients with H. pylon infection, TFF2 and MUC6 expression was detected within the foveola of antral mucosa, incisura and body in 59.3%, 44.4)3 and 11.1%, respectively (all P < 0.05, compared with normal mucosa), Moreover, TFF2 and MUC6 expression was also detected in the' glands of incisura and body mucosa in a proportion (96,3% and 14.8%, respectively) of H. pylori infected patients. CONCLUSION: H, pylori infection is associated with extended TFF2 and MUC6 expression in the gastric antral, incisura and body epithelium, which indicates a protective role of these factors in H. pylori infection.