cagE is a virulence factor associated with Helicobacter pylori-induced duodenal ulceration in children.

This study was undertaken to determine whether infection with Helicobacter pylori strains that contain the cagE gene was associated with duodenal ulceration in children. The presence of flaA, cagA, and cagE genes was determined by polymerase chain reaction in H. pylori previously cultured from 29 children. Twelve (92%) of 13 children with duodenal ulcers were infected with cagE-positive isolates, compared with only 5 (31%) of 16 with gastritis alone (P<.01). Infection of gastric cells in tissue culture by cagE-positive H. pylori resulted in greater increments in interleukin-8 levels compared with cagE-negative strains (2.3+/-0.1 vs. 1.3+/-0.2 ng/mL in AGS cells [P<.005]; 1.5+/-0.3 vs. 0.5+/-0.2 ng/mL in KATO-III cells [P<.05]). H. pylori-containing cagE was associated with the presence of duodenal ulceration in children. Enhanced chemokine production after infection with cagE-positive H. pylori could affect disease outcome.