[Detection of CagA protein in strains of Helicobacter pylori isolated from patients with gastritis and gastric ulcer disease]

Abstract

A total of 156 Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from adult patients (81 men, 75 women) with diagnosis of gastritis (43 strains GAS) and gastric ulcer (113 strains GU) were analyzed for the production of CagA protein by quantitative and qualitative immunoblot methods. 80% of gastric ulcer group strains (84% in men, 73% in women) produced CagA protein, while in the gastritis patients group only 63% of strains were CagA protein positive (59% in men, 65% in women). Quantitative production was estimated by CagA index (mean production of CagA protein in CagA positive strains) in both groups of strains GAS and GU in men and women. Strains of GU group were shown to be higher producers (index CagA 2.42) as compared to GAS group (2.09). Index CagA was higher in strains isolated from men (index CagA 2.54) than is strains from women (index CagA 2.13).

Conclusion: CagA production has been proved in 75% of analysed Helicobacter pylori strains. CagA positive strains were more frequent in gastric ulcer disease patients, slightly higher in the male than in the female patients. Strains isolated from men, irrespective of diagnosis (GAS and GU), are higher producers of CagA protein.