Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Mouse- and Human-derived Primary Gastric Epithelial Monolayer Culture for the Study of Regeneration
Published on: May 7, 2018
Cancer stem cells in Helicobacter pylori infection and aging: Implications for gastric carcinogenesis
Edi Levi1, Paula Sochacki1, Nabiha Khoury1
1Edi Levi, Paula Sochacki, Nabiha Khoury, Bhaumik B Patel, Adhip PN Majumdar, Department of Veterans Affairs, John D Dingell VA Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
Aim:
To demonstrated the combined effects of aging and carcinogen treatment on cancer stem/stem-like cells (CSCs) of gastric mucosa in an animal model.
Methods:
In this study we investigated the effects of aging and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) inflammation as a model for inflammation induced carcinogenesis in human and rat gastric mucosa samples. In aging studies, we compared 4-mo old (young) with 22 mo (aged) old Fischer-344 rats. For human studies, gastric biopsies and resection specimens representing normal mucosa or different stages of H. pylori gastritis and gastric adenocarcinomas were used for determining the expression of stem cell markers CD166, ALDH1 and LGR5. In addition we performed immunofluorescent double labeling for B-catenin and Lgr5 in both rat and human gastric tissues to examine the status of Wnt signaling in these cells.
Results:
CSC markers ALDH1, LGR5, and CD166 were expressed in very low levels in normal human gastric mucosa or young rat gastric mucosa. In contrast, level of expression for all three markers significantly increased in H. pylori gastritis and gastric adenocarcinomas as well as in normal gastric mucosa in aged rats. We also observed cytoplasmic B-catenin staining in both aged rat and human H. pylori inflamed gastric mucosa, which were found to be colocalized with Lgr5 immunoreactive cells. The increased number of ALDH1, CD166 and LGR5 positive cells in H. pylori gastritis indicates that increased number of stem-like cells in gastric mucosa is an early event, and may constitute an important step in the progression to neoplasia.
Conclusion:
Our observation of the age-related increase in cancer stem/stem-like cells in the gastric mucosa may explain the increased incidence of gastric cancer during aging. Combination of aging and H. pylori infection may have additive effects in progression to neoplasia.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
Peptic Ulcer
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology
Damaging agents such as Helicobacter pylori, gastric acid, pepsin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can weaken the mucosal defense, allowing hydrogen ions to infiltrate back and harm epithelial cells.
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

