Effects of Helicobacter pylori Infection on the Expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 in Patients with Chronic Gastritis and Gastric Cancer

Author(s)

Bartchewsky, Jr., Waldemar ^[1] ; Martini, Mariana R. ^[1] ; Squassoni, Aline C. ^[1] ; Alvarez, Marisa C. ^[1] ; Ladeira, Marcelo S. P. ^[2] ; Salvatore, Daisy M. F. ^[3] ; Trevisan, Miriam A. ^[4] ; Pedrazzoli, Jr., Jose ^[1] ; Ribeiro, Marcelo L. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Francisco, Unidade Integrada Farmacol & Gastroenterol, BR-12900000 Braganca Paulista, SP - Brazil

^[2] UNESP, Dpto Clin Med, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[3] UNESP, Dpto Patol, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[4] Lab MULTIPAT, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Digestive Diseases and Sciences; v. 55, n. 1, p. 111-116, JAN 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 13

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of Helicobacter pylori on Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. The study included 217 patients, of which 26 were uninfected; 127 had chronic gastritis and were H. pylori-positive, and 64 had gastric cancer. Bacterial genotypes were evaluated by PCR, and the expression values were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Our data showed that the up-regulationary effects of H. pylori infection on the proapoptotic gene, Bax, were stronger than its induction of Bcl-2; this effect may increase apoptosis in patients with chronic gastritis. In patients with gastric cancer, the up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2, counteracted the pro-apoptotic effects of Bax, leading to a deregulation of apoptosis-associated gene expression, favoring cell proliferation. Thus, the disturbance in Bax and Bcl-2 balance, induced by H. pylori, might be important in gastric cancer development. (AU)