HELICOBACTER PYLORI AND GALLBLADDER PATHOLOGIES: IS THERE A CAUSE-AND-EFFECT RELATIONSHIP?

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pathology
• Microbiology

Background:

• The association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and gallbladder diseases, including cholecystitis and gallbladder polyps, is not well-defined.
• Investigating H. pylori's role in gallbladder pathologies and its impact on chemokine expression is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of H. pylori in gallbladder tissues.
• To assess the expression of chemokines CXCL2 and CXCL5 in patients with gallbladder diseases.
• To explore the potential relationship between H. pylori infection, chemokine expression, and gallbladder pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 137 laparoscopically excised gallbladders.
• Histological examination and PCR for H. pylori detection.
• Quantitative real-time PCR for CXCL2 and CXCL5 gene expression analysis in patients with acute calculous cholecystitis, chronic calculous cholecystitis, and gallbladder polyps.

Main Results:

• H. pylori was detected in 30.7% (histology) and 42.3% (PCR) of gallbladder tissues.
• Elevated CXCL2 and CXCL5 expression was observed in 62% and 57.7% of cases, respectively, notably higher in acute cholecystitis.
• No statistically significant association was found between H. pylori presence and cholecystitis types or chemokine expression.

Conclusions:

• This study did not establish a direct causal link between H. pylori infection and gallbladder pathologies.
• The upregulation of CXCL2 and CXCL5 in gallbladder diseases may be influenced by factors other than H. pylori.
• Further research is warranted to clarify the complex interplay between H. pylori, chemokines, and gallbladder disease pathogenesis.