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. 1998 Oct;43(4):470–475. doi: 10.1136/gut.43.4.470

Helicobacter pylori in vivo causes structural changes in the adherent gastric mucus layer but barrier thickness is not compromised

J Newton 1, N Jordan 1, L Oliver 1, V Strugala 1, J Pearson 1, O James 1, A Allen 1
PMCID: PMC1727262  PMID: 9824571

Abstract

Background—It has been proposed that a pathogenic effect of Helicobacter pylori is a weakening of the protective mucus barrier; however, this remains controversial. 
Aims—To clarify the effects of H pylori infection on the mucus gel barrier in vivo. 
Methods—Mucus gel polymeric structure and the thickness of the adherent mucus barrier were measured in endoscopic biopsy samples in subjects with and without H pylori infection. 
Results—There was a significant 18% reduction in the proportion of polymeric gel forming mucin in the adherent mucus layer in H pylori positive compared with negative subjects. There was no change in the adherent mucus thickness between H pylori positive and negative subjects without gastric atrophy (mean (SD): 104(26) µm, 106 (30) µm respectively). There was however a significant reduction in mucus thickness in those H pylori positive subjects with underlying gastric atrophy (84 (13) µm, p=0.03) compared with those without atrophy. 
Conclusions—A partial breakdown in gel forming structure of the gastric mucus barrier does occur in H pylori infection per se but this is insufficient to cause a collapse of the mucus barrier. 



Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; gastric mucus

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Figure 1 .

Figure 1

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Individual mucus thickness measurements (measurements within ±5 µm) shown according to H pylori status and the presence or absence of underlying gastric atrophy. (A) H pylori negative; (B) H pylori positive without atrophy; (C) H pylori positive with atrophy. 


Figure 2 .

Figure 2

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Representative SDS-PAGE of gastric antral mucin showing 2 distinct bands. Band a: polymeric large molecular weight mucin that enters the stacking gel; mucin applied to gel enters the stacking gel and diffuses around the point of application as one broad band. Band b: smaller sized mucin that enters the running gel; dotted line shows the interface between the stacking and the running gel. 


Figure 3 .

Figure 3

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Percentage ratio of large molecular weight polymeric mucin in: (A) mucosal surface brushings (adherent mucus gel layer); and (B) biopsy samples (intracellular mucus and adherent mucus gel layer). Dotted lines represent mean values. *p=0.01. 


Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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