Peanut agglutinin binding by gastric mucosal epithelial cells in Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis

Gastric biopsies (42) from patients with peptic ulcer disease were classified into Helicobacter pylori positive (32) and negative (10) groups, based on the results of tissue urease test and microscopic demonstration of spiral bacteria. A statistically significant difference in peanut agglutinin (PNA) binding between the two groups was observed, attributable to exposure of sialic acid residues on gastric epithelium in the H. pylori positive group. That the negative binding was due to sialic acid, was further confirmed by application of sialidase digestion technique. These results support the existing biochemical evidence for exposure of sialic acid residues on H. pylori colonized epithelium.