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Helicobacter pylori accelerates the biliary epithelial cell proliferation activity in hepatolithiasis
Tamotsu Kuroki1, Kenzo Fukuda, Kousyou Yamanouchi
1Department of Surgery II, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan. tkuroki-gi@umin.ac.jp
Background/Aims:
Several authors have reported the presence of H. pylori in the human biliary tract. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the presence of H. pylori on the epithelial cell proliferation activity in the biliary tract with hepatolithiasis.
Methodology:
A histopathological examination and polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the presence of H. pylori from fourteen patients with hepatolithiasis. The cell proliferation activity in the biliary epithelia was determined using proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining.
Results:
A histopathological examination and polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated H. pylori to be detected in 5 (37%) and 4 (29%) out of 14 patients, respectively. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index was significantly higher in the H. pylori-positive patients (28.3%) than in the H. pylori-negative individuals (4.9%).
Conclusions:
H. pylori is present in the biliary tract of patients with hepatolithiasis, while H. pylori promotes the formation of stones in the biliary tract. The development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma might therefore be linked to the presence of H. pylori because of the accelerated activity of cell kinetics in the epithelium of the biliary tract.