<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and the Patterns of Gastric Mucin Expression in Children

• Main Authors: Ana-Maria Teodora Domșa, Raluca Lupușoru, Dan Gheban, Alexandra Buruiană-Simic, Bogdan Alexandru Gheban, Camelia Lazăr, Cristina Maria Borzan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>; gastritis; children; gastric mucins; immunohistochemistry
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/12/4030

Background: The updated model for the mechanism of gastric carcinogenesis demonstrates that <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) is a risk factor in every step of the process. The expression of certain gastric mucins is altered by <i>H. pylori</i> infection in adult patients. The aim of our research was to assess the impact of <i>H. pylori</i> infection on the expression of secretory mucins in the pediatric antral mucosa. Methods: Slides were stained with monoclonal antibodies for MUC5AC, MUC6 and MUC2, digitalized and scored using both a semiquantitative and a quantitative approach. Results: The expression of MUC5AC was significantly lower in infected children. Also, MUC2 expression was more pronounced in infected children. MUC6 expression did not differentiate between infected and noninfected children. Additionally, the presence of chronic inflammation significantly altered the expression of MUC6 and MUC2. The expression of MUC6 was significantly higher in patients with gastric atrophy. Conclusion: The minor differences in mucin expression at distinct ages might stem from different <i>H. pylori</i> exposure periods. Further research is needed to determine the particular patterns of expression according to age and to evaluate the effects of the interaction between <i>H. pylori</i> and mucins in the progression of the gastric carcinogenesis cascade.