ABSENCE OF EFFECT OF LEWIS-A AND LEWIS-B EXPRESSION ON ADHERENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI TO HUMAN GASTRIC CELLS

Background & Aims: Lewis b blood group antigen and antibodies to Lewis b inhibit the binding of stationary-phase Helicobacter pylori organis ms to fixed sections of gastric tissue. The aim of this study was to d etermine the effect of expression of Lewis a and Lewis b on binding of H. pylori to primary gastric cells. Methods: ABO and Lewis blood type s were determined for 13 individuals. Cells were isolated from gastric biopsy specimens by collagenase digestion. Lewis antigen expression a nd adherence of H. pylori to the cells were quantitated using flow cyt ometry. Results: Two of the three nonsecretors were found to express L ewis b on their cells. Nineteen of 19 individuals expressed Lewis a on their cells and 18 of 19 expressed Lewis b. The percentage of cells e xpressing Lewis antigens varied from individual to individual. H. pylo ri binding was independent of expression of Lewis antigens. Preincubat ion of cells with antibodies to Lewis antigens did not inhibit the adh erence. Conclusions: H. pylori adheres to isolated human gastric cells in a manner that is not dependent on Lewis antigen expression on thes e cells, and expression of Lewis antigens on the surface of gastric ce lls is not dependent on Lewis antigen expression on erythrocytes.