Opsonic activity of specific human IgG against Helicobacter pylori

There is a strong association between chronic gastroduodenal disease in adults and children and the recovery of Helicobacter pylori (formerly Campylobacter pylori) from gastric biopsy specimens. However, data relevant to host defense mechanisms directed against this organism are scarce. The ability of H. pylori-specific antibody and complement to enhance the in vitro phagocytosis and killing of H. pylori by human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) were studied. Sera with IgG antibody to H. pylori from five children with culture-proven H. pylori gastric disease markedly enhanced complement-dependent phagocytosis of H. pylori in an assay using flow cytometry to measure uptake of fluorescent-labeled bacteria by PMNL. Absorption of specific antibody from patient sera with an excess of H. pylori organisms completely abrogated this enhancement. IgG purified from plasma with high IgG antibody titers to H. pylori enhanced complement-dependent phagocytosis of H. pylori and increased the killing of this organism by PMNL in the presence of 5% human opsonic complement by one full log. IgG antibody to H. pylori appears to be highly functional in vitro in promoting complement-dependent phagocytosis and killing of H. pylori by PMNL.