Prevalence of two homologous genes encoding glycosyltransferases of Helicobacter pylori in the United States and Japan.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

jhp0562 and β-(1,3)galT (jhp0563) of Helicobacter pylori have been suggested as novel virulent factors; however, the clinical associations and functions of these genes remain unclear. We examined the prevalence of jhp0562, β-(1,3)galT, and cagA in the United States (US) and Japanese populations.

METHODS

A total of 308 strains (171 from the US and 137 from Japan) were examined for the status of jhp0562, β-(1,3)galT, and cagA by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in the status of jhp0562, β-(1,3)galT and cagA between the US and Japanese populations (P < 0.001). In the US, the prevalence of β-(1,3)galT was significantly lower in strains isolated from patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) or gastric ulcer (GU) than those with gastritis (47.8% and 32.1% vs 72.0%, P < 0.01), and the absence of β-(1,3)galT was an independent factor discriminating DU and GU from gastritis (adjusted odds ratios, 4.21 and 8.52; 95% confidence intervals, 1.75 to 10.12 and 2.76 to 26.33, respectively). In the US, the prevalence of the jhp0562-positive/β-(1,3)galT-negative genotype was significantly higher in strains from DU and GU patients than in those from gastritis patients (50.0%, 67.9%, and 24.4%, P < 0.01) and the cagA status was significantly correlated with that of jhp0562 and inversely correlated with that of β-(1,3)galT. In contrast, the prevalence of these three genes was not significantly different in Japan.

CONCLUSIONS

jhp0562 or β-(1,3)galT can be used to discriminate peptic ulcers from gastritis in the US, but not in Japan.