HELICOBACTER-PYLORI AGGREGATING ACTIVITY OF GASTRIC MUCIN WITH ULCER HEALING BY EBROTIDINE

The mucin isolated from gastric secretion of duodenal ulcer patients b efore and after therapy with a new antiulcer agent, ebrotidine, was as sessed for H. pylori aggregating activity and macromolecular organizat ion. Analyses of mucin molecular forms revealed that successful therap y with ebrotidine was accompanied by a 2.6-2.9-fold increase in the hi gh molecular weight mucin form. The H. pylori aggregation inhibition a ssays showed that therapy with ebrotidine evoked a 4-fold increase in mucin anti-X. pylori titer. The changes in the functional properties o f mucin following ebrotidine therapy were also accompanied by a 36% in crease in the content of sulfomucin. The results demonstrate that ulce r therapy with ebrotidine lead to a marked enhancement in mucin's qual ities associated with maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity and str engthening the indigenous defenses against H. pylori.