cagE is a virulence factor associated with Helicobacter pylori-induced duodenal ulceration in children

This study was undertaken to determine whether infection with Helicobacter pylori strains that contain the cagE gene was associated with duodenal ulce ration in children. The presence of flaA, cagA, and cagE genes was determin ed by polymerase chain reaction in H. pylori previously cultured from 29 ch ildren. Twelve (92%) of 13 children with duodenal ulcers were infected with cagE-positive isolates, compared with only 5 (31%) of 16 with gastritis al one (P < .01). Infection of gastric cells in tissue culture by cagE-positiv e H. pylori resulted in greater increments in interleukin-8 levels compared with cagE-negative strains (2.3 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.2 ng/mL in AGS cells [P < .005]; 1.5 +/- 0.3 vs. 0.5 +/- 0.2 ng/mL in KATO-III cells [P < .05]) . H. pylori-containing cagE was associated with the presence of duodenal ul ceration in children. Enhanced chemokine production after infection with ca gE-positive H. pylori could affect disease outcome.