Modulation of Galectin-3 and Galectin 9 in gastric mucosa of patients with chronic gastritis and positive Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

ObjectivesGalectins are mediators that play an important role in the inflammatory response and in this study we analyzed the expression of Galectins (Gal) −1, −3 and −9 in biopsies of the gastric antrum of patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Methodology: 44 patients with upper digestive tract symptoms were evaluated, and underwent Upper Digestive Endoscopy examination. Sections of the gastric antrum were fixed in buffered formaldehyde at 4% in order to perform the anatomopathological examination and immunohistochemical analysis for Galectins-1, −3 and −9 expression. Fresh sections of gastric antrum were used for DNA extraction and evaluation of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). P values<0.05 were considered statistically significant. ResultsGal-1 was significantly more expressed on stroma than epithelium (p<0.0001), whereas Gal-3 and Gal-9 were more expressed on epithelium (p<0.0001). Gal-3 was found to be significantly higher in the stroma of patients with H. pylori infection, mainly on Cag-A positive H. pylori (p<0.0001). Gal-9 was down modulated in stroma of patients with chronic gastritis. ConclusionUp modulation of Gal-3 expression was associated with H. pylori infection and down modulation of Gal-9 with the inflammatory process of chronic gastritis.