Polyamine profile in human gastric mucosa infected by Helicobacter pylori

Background, Several studies have demonstrated increased gastric epithelial cell proliferation associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, which is reversed after bacterium eradication. Among the substances involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, polyamines are a group of polycations f ound in high concentrations both in normal and neoplastic cells. Aims of the study were: a) to examine the influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on the polyamine profile in the gastric antrum and body, by compa ring infected, to uninfected patients, b) to evaluate the effect of success ful and unsuccessful bacterium eradication on polyamine levels. Patients and Methods. Twenty-six consecutive dyspeptic patients (20 Helicob acter pylori positive and 6 Helicobacter pylori negative) undergoing gastro scopy were enrolled Polyamines were evaluated in antral and body biopsies b y High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Results. Antral and body biopsies from Helicobacter pylori positive patient s contained higher polyamine levels than those from Helicobacter pylori neg ative subjects. In Helicobacter pylori positive patients, the baseline poly amine levels were higher in the antrum than in the body. In Helicobacter py lori negative subjects, levels in the two stomach regions were similar: Aft er therapy, polyamine levels decreased in patients with successful eradicat ion, whereas these levels remained unchanged in patients in whom infection persisted. Conclusions. These findings indicate enhanced antral cellular proliferation linked to the presence of Helicobacter pylori and add weight to the postul ation of an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and increased risk of neoplastic changes in gastric antral mucosa. Differences in antral and body levels of polyamines may also be considered as a further indicati on of the different mucosal reactivity between the two regions of the stoma ch towards bacterial invasion.