Anti-lewis X IgM and IgG in H. pylori infections in children and adults

摘要

A role of autoimmune processes in the pathology of Helicobacter pylori infections has been suggested. The Lewis determinants present in LPS molecule of of. pylori bacteria have been indicated as the cause of antigenic mimicry. In this study, the prevalence of lgM and IgG antibodies to Lewis X antigen in the sera from children and adults, with or without dyspepsia, infected or not infected with H. pylori, seropositive and seronegative for anti-H, pylori IgG were determined immuno-enzymatically (ELISA). Our results revealed that humans may produce anti-Lewis X antibodies, particularly of IgM class, in the absence of H. pylori infection or H. pylori independent dyspepsia. The production of such antibodies, by healthy children who had never been infected with It. pylori suggested that anti-Lewis X antibodies may occur naturally.