ANTIGASTRIC AUTOANTIBODIES IN HELICOBACTER-PYLORI GASTRITIS - PREVALENCE, IN-SITU BINDING-SITES AND CLUES FOR CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Colonization of human gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori leads to chronic active gastritis and induces the occurrence of an acquired mu cosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in the stomach. This remodellin g of the gastric mucosa together with chronic antigen persistence may induce autoimmune reactions. The aim of this study was to investigate humoral autoimmune reactions to human gastric mucosa in H. pylori gast ritis and their clinical relevance. Sera from patients with dyspeptic symptoms were tested for presence of IgG immunoglobulins against H. py lori. Gastric infection with H. pylori and alterations of gastric muco sa were demonstrated by histological examination of gastric biopsy spe cimens. All sera were tested for reactivity against human gastric muco sa by immunohistochemistry. Two different in-situ binding sites of ant igastric autoantibodies were observed. Binding to canalicular structur es within parietal cells was significantly correlated with antibodies to H. pylori, elevated basal gastrin levels and atrophy of gastric cor pus glands. Our data indicate that autoimmune reactions to antigens in the human gastric mucosa occur in H. pylori gastritis and that they m ay play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.