Abstract
PURPOSE
Dysregulation of gastric epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis are important in development of ulcer, atrophy and neoplasia in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of infection of H. pylori on gastric epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis in children.
METHODS
Histological grading by updated Sydney system, PCNA immunostaining and TUNEL method were performed in H. pylori positive (N=58) and negative (N=40) gastric biopsy specimens.
RESULTS
In H. pylori positive children, there were significantly higher grade of polymorphonuclear neutrophil activity (P=0.000), chronic inflammation (P=0.000), epithelial damage (P=0.000) and lymphoid follicles (P=0.000) than in H. pylori negative children. Intestinal metaplasia was not seen in H. pylori positive children. PCNA index was significantly different between H. pylori positive children (67.8±18.13) and H. pylori negative children (54.8±14.46, P=0.000). There was positive correlation between PCNA index and H. pylori density (r=0.277, P=0.007), polymorphonuclear neutrophil activity (r=0.280, P=0.007) and chronic inflammation (r=0.284, P=0.006). Apoptosis index of H. pylori positive children (0.44±0.447) was significantly higher than of H. pylori negative children (0.14±0.196, P=0.000). There was positive correlation between apoptosis index and H. pylori density (r=0.472, P=0.000), polymorphonuclear neutrophil activity (r=0.370, P=0.001) and chronic inflammation (r=0.483, P=0.000). There was positive correlation between PCNA index and apoptosis index (r=0.353, P=0.003).