Potential role of LPS in the outcome of Helicobacter pylori related diseases.

In this study we asked a question whether H. pylori LPS with or without LewisXY (Le) determinants as well as LBP (lipopolysaccharide binding protein) and sCD 14 molecules recognizing bacterial LPS may be involved in atherogenesis. Sera from 57 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), 27 H. pylori infected dyspeptic patients-H.p.(+) and 49 healthy controls (HC) were tested for IgM and IgG to H. pylori LPS expressing LeX (LPS LeX) or LeXY (LPS LeXY) determinants and to a glycine acid extract (GE). Immune complexes (ICs) of Lewis antigens and specific IgM or IgG were also determined. The prevalence of anti-GE IgG and IgA was significantly higher in CHD as compared to HC and the same as in the H.p.(+) group. The highest levels of anti-GE IgG were detected only for CHD group. CHD patients showed upregulation of IgG to LPS LeX and LeXY. In contrast, an upregulation of IgM to such LPSs was found for healthy subjects. The levels ofLeY-anti-LeY IgG ICs were higher in CHD patients than in healthy controls similarly to the levels of LBP. There was no difference in sCD14 concentration between CHD and HC groups. The results obtained in this study indicate that H. pylori infections may be the risk factors of atherosclerosis due to: 1) an enhanced humoral response to H. pylori surface antigens, 2) a host predisposition to respond to Lewis determinants present in H. pylori LPS by IgG, 3) increased levels of serum LBP.