J Korean Med Sci.  2010 Jan;25(1):61-66. 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.1.61.

Examination of Geographical, Clinical and Intrahost Variations in the 3' Repeat Region of CagA Gene in Helicobacter pylori

• Park SY
• Lee YD
• Kim SK

• KMID: 1713833
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.1.61

Abstract

The size variation of the cytoxin-associated protein (cagA), which is dependent on the 3' repeat region (3'RR) of the cagA gene, is known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori infection. The present study evaluated the relationship between the 3'RR variation and the geographic distribution, clinical manifestations, and locations of colonization in the stomach. We evaluated the 3'RR of H. pylori isolates from 78 patients with gastric cancer, peptic ulcer, and non-ulcer dyspepsia from Japan, Hong Kong, India, and the United States and assessed the variations of 3'RR according to the geographical and clinical characteristics. Sixty eight (87.2%) patients had the same 650 bp band without geographical differences. The frequency of polymorphisms in the 3'RR did not differ when compared to the clinical manifestations (P=0.868). The length of 3'RR did not differ by location of colonization. In conclusion, the 3'RR variation of cagA gene is not associated with the geographical and clinical characteristics of the patients studied.

Keyword

Helicobacter pylori; CagA; Polymerase Chain Reaction

MeSH Terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Antigens, Bacterial/*genetics
Bacterial Proteins/*genetics
Dyspepsia/etiology
Helicobacter Infections/diagnosis
Helicobacter pylori/*genetics
Humans
Integration Host Factors
Molecular Sequence Data
Peptic Ulcer/etiology
Polymorphism, Genetic
Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid
Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
Stomach Neoplasms/etiology
Antigens, Bacterial
Bacterial Proteins
Integration Host Factors

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Location of primers used for assessment of cagA 3' repeat region.

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  Fig. 2 PCR of 3' repeat region of 84-183 and 147 strain's cagA gene by primer cag3/4. 84-183 strains show 50 bp differences and 147 strain from different location of same stomach show 100 bp differences.

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  Fig. 3 RAPD-PCR, using primers 1254 and 1281, of antral and cardia isolates from patient 147. Strain 26695 and H2O are controls. The two isolates have the same profiles indicating that they are the same strain.

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  Fig. 4 PCR of 8 isolates from antrum (lanes a-c) and cardia (lanes d-h) of patient 147 using primers cag3 and cag4. All 3 antral isolates showed products shorter than the cardia isolates.

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  Fig. 5 Primary structure of the cagA 3' repeat region of the isolates from USA patient 147. (A) cardia strain, (B) antral strain. In the genetic analysis, the antral strain showed a 100 bp defect in the cagA 3' repeat region. R3 and downstream of 3' repeat region have a directly repeated same sequence (R4).

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