Anti-Lewis X antibody and Lewis X-anti-Lewis X immune complexes in Helicobacter pylori infection.

A molecular similarity of Lewis antigens expressed by Helicobacter pylori bacteria and those present in human gastric mucosa has been recognised as a cause of autoimmunity involved in the pathogenesis of chronic type B gastritis and gastric and duodenal ulcers. In this study, the expression of Lewis X determinants was found on 56% of H. pylori strains isolated from patients with chronic gastritis/gastroduodenitis. Anti-Lewis X IgG as well as Lewis X-anti-Lewis X IgG complexes were detected in the sera from patients and even more frequently in the sera from healthy blood donors producing antibodies against surface antigens of H. pylori. It suggested that the initial H. pylori-induced lesions were independent of anti-Lewis X antibody production. When H. pylori bacteria expressing Lewis X antigen were treated with anti-Lewis X monoclonal antibody (mAb) of IgM isotype, they were more susceptible to ingestion by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) than untreated bacteria. This fact may lead us to believe that anti-Lewis X antibody limits the growth of H. pylori on gastric mucosa.