CagA protein Detection in Helicobacterpylori Strains Isolated from Patients with Gastritis and Gastric Ulcer Disease

Overview

A total of 156 Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from adult patients (81 men, 75 women) withdiagnosis of gastritis (43 strains GAS) and gastric ulcer (113 strains GU) were analyzed for theproduction of CagA protein by quantitative and qualitative immunoblot methods. 80% of gastriculcer group strains (84% in men, 73% in women) produced CagA protein, while in the gastritispatients group only 63% of strains were CagA protein positive (59% in men, 65% in women).Quantitative production was estimated by CagA index (mean production of CagA protein in CagApositive strains) in both groups of strains GAS andGU in men and women. Strains ofGU group wereshown to be higher producers (index CagA 2,42) as compared to GAS group (2,09). Index CagA washigher in strains isolated frommen (index CagA 2,54) than is strains fromwomen (index CagA 2,13).Conclusion: CagA production has been proved in 75% of analysed Helicobacter pylori strains. CagApositive strains were more frequent in gastric ulcer disease patients, slightly higher in the malethan in the female patients. Strains isolated from men, irrespective of diagnosis (GAS and GU), arehigher producers of CagA protein.

Key words:
CagA protein – Helicobacter pylori – gastric ulcer disease – gastritis – immunoblot.