Human gastric mucosal hydrophobicity does not decrease with Helicobacter pylori infection or chronological age
M Al-Marhoon | S Nunn | RW Soames
AND AIMS: Infection with cytotoxin-associated
gene A (cagA) Helicobacter pylori is associated
with severe gastric diseases. Previous studies in humans
have reported a decreased gastric hydrophobicity with H
pylori infection. The aim of the present study
was to differentiate between the effect of cagA+ and
cagA- strains on gastric mucus hydrophobicity.
METHODS: One hundred patients without peptic ulcers
and not on medication were randomly recruited from
endoscopy clinics; each patient had six biopsies. Contact
angle measurements were performed using a goniometer
assisted by computer software. H pylori status
was assessed by histology, Campylobacter-like
organism test and culture, and cagA+ status was determined
by polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS: In age- and sex-matched patients, there
was no significant difference (P=0.27) in contact angle
between H pylori-positive (61±2.8°) and H
pylori-negative patients (65.5±3.0°). There was
also no significant difference (P=0.36) in contact
angle among H pylori-negative, cagA- and cagA+
patients (65.5±3.0°, 58.6±3.6° and 63.4±4.9°, respectively).
However, a trend of increased mean contact angles in
cagA+ compared with cagA- and H pylori-negative
patients was observed in patients 50 years and younger
(68.3±8.3°, 61.1±6.1° and 63.6±2.2°, respectively;
P=0.70) and in patients without atrophy (71.1±8°, 59.6±4° and
66±2°, respectively; P=0.30). In addition, there was
no significant correlation between contact angles and
patient age (r=0.104, P=0.306).
CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that H pylori infection
and the chronological age have no effect on the gastric
mucus hydrophobicity, but it highlights a trend of
increased mucus hydrophobicity with cagA+ infection
that needs to be supported by future studies.