Analysis of p53 gene mutations in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis mucosa in endoscopic biopsy specimens.

BACKGROUND

No previous report has shown the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and a direct sequence analysis of p53 gene mutation in a biopsy sample of human gastric mucosa.

METHODS

A total of 60 endoscopic biopsies samples (21 patients with H. pylori-positive gastritis and 9 patients with H. pylori-negative gastritis), including antral mucosa and corpus mucosa, were used in this study. Direct DNA sequencing of exons 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the p53 gene was performed by the dyedeoxy terminator method.

RESULTS

Mutations in the p53 gene were identified in non-hot spot codons in exon 7 and 8 in 11 of 21 samples (52.4%) from H. pylori-positive gastritis patients. There was no mutation in H. pylori-negative gastritis patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This finding shows that H. pylori infection can induce p53 point mutations and appears to be involved in the pathway leading to dysplasia or carcinoma.