Korean J Gastroenterol.  2003 Oct;42(4):267-273.

Glutathione Levels in Helicobacter pylori-infected Gastric Mucosa

• Park DK
• Jeong SK
• Chung MG
• Kwon OS
• Kim SS
• Koo YS
• Kim YK
• Kim YS
• Choi DJ
• Park CS
• Chung WG
• Kim JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oxidative stress may contribute to gastric epithelial damage and mutagenesis caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). H. pylori induces recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells, which produces reactive oxygen species. H. pylori extract directly induces the synthesis of reactive oxygen species in gastric epithelial cells and causes DNA damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the levels of glutathione (GSH) and H. pylori density, histological findings, endoscopic findings, clinical variables, and virulence factors.
METHODS
Gastric biopsy specimens were obtained from 73 consecutive patients. The 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) reaction was used to determine GSH levels.
RESULTS
The infection rate of H. pylori was 68.5%. The GSH level was not related to age, sex, alcohol intake, and endoscopic findings. The GSH level was lower in patients infected with H. pylori. GSH levels were not correlated significantly with the grades of neutrophil, intestinal metaplasia, and atrophy. However, the GSH levels were significantly correlated with H. pylori density (r=-0.296, p=0.01) and monocyte grade (r=-0.257, p=0.02). The GSH levels were not related to CagA, VacA, and UreA.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that H. pylori causes oxidative stresses which deplete GSH in gastric mucosa of patients infected with H. pylori.

Keyword

Helicobacter pylori; Glutathione

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Female
Gastric Mucosa/*metabolism/pathology
Glutathione/*metabolism
Helicobacter Infections/*metabolism/pathology
*Helicobacter pylori
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oxidative Stress
Stomach Diseases/*metabolism/microbiology/pathology