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Invasiveness of Helicobacter pylori into human gastric mucosa
1Department of Pathology, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Chinju, Korea. gyunghko@gshp.gsnu.ac.kr
Background:
Helicobacter pylori has generally been observed only in the gastric mucous layer or in the spaces between gastric mucus-secreting cells and not in the gastric epithelial cells or in the lamina propria. The purpose of this study is to determine whether H. pylori invades the gastric mucosa, using an immunoelectron microscopical examination of human gastric mucosa infected with H. pylori.
Materials And Methods:
Five hundred gastric antral biopsy specimens were fixed in a periodate-lysin-paraformaldehyde solution, embedded in Lowicryl, sectioned, and examined with a light microscope. One hundred specimens moderately or severely infected with H. pylori were selected and were incubated with polyclonal rabbit anti-H. pylori antibody. The specimens were washed, incubated with 20 nm of colloidal gold-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG, stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and observed with a transmission electron microscope.
Results:
In one case, a bacterium was observed within the cytoplasm of a gastric mucus-secreting cell; in another case, a few bacteria were observed within the cytoplasm of a stromal cell in the lamina propria. The bacteria could be differentiated from degenerated intracellular organelles by gold particles attached to the bacteria.
Conclusion:
H. pylori rarely invade the lamina propria and gastric cells.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) rarely invades gastric cells or the lamina propria. This study used immunoelectron microscopy to investigate H. pylori invasion in human gastric mucosa.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori typically resides in the gastric mucous layer.
- Previous observations excluded H. pylori from gastric epithelial cells and lamina propria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if H. pylori invades gastric mucosal tissue.
- Utilizing immunoelectron microscopy for enhanced visualization.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 500 human gastric antral biopsy specimens.
- Immunoelectron microscopy with colloidal gold-conjugated antibodies to detect H. pylori.
Main Results:
- Bacteria observed within a gastric mucus-secreting cell in one case.
- Few bacteria identified within a stromal cell in the lamina propria in another case.
- Gold particles confirmed bacterial presence, distinguishing them from cellular debris.
Conclusions:
- H. pylori invasion of gastric cells and lamina propria is rare.
- Confirms limited invasive capacity of H. pylori into gastric mucosa.