The influence of Helicobacter pylori patients' treatment on MUC 1 content in gastric juice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori that resides in the gastric mucus layer is the major etiological factor in gastritis, gastric ulcers and carcinomas. Among others, carbohydrate structures of MUC 1 mucin are also considered by some authors as being important in the mechanism of infection. The main aim of our study was to establish whether Helicobacter pylori treatment has any influence on the level of soluble form of MUC 1 mucin in gastric juice.

METHODOLOGY

We examined two groups of Helicobacter pylori infected patients. The first group was treated with omeprazole (at the end of the therapy the bacterium was still present). The second group was treated with omeprazole and antibiotics, and the bacterium eradication was confirmed. MUC 1 mucin was determined by Western blotting technique.

RESULTS

Before the therapy, the level of MUC 1 was found to be low in almost all cases, while at the end of the treatment in both groups of patients an increase of MUC 1 mucin was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results can confirm the thesis that Helicobacter pylori inhibits the expression of MUC 1 mucin on cell membranes.