Question

Discuss the Helycobacter pylori and its role in production of ulcer gastric disease?

230-250 word discussion

Answer 1

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative, helically-shaped, microaerophilic bacterium usually found in the stomach.

Its helical shape is thought to have evolved in order to penetrate the mucoidal stomach lining and thereby establish infection.

It has been associated with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the stomach, esophagus, colon, rectum, or eye tissues and of lymphoid tissue in the stomach.

Helicobacter pylori harms the stomach and duodenal linings by several mechanisms.

• H. pylori produces biochemicals such as proteases, cytotoxin A.
• This damages epithelial cells, disrupts tight junctions and will causes apoptosis and damages certain phospholipases.
• Cytotoxin associated genes can also cause inflammation.
• Colonization of the stomach by H. pylori may cause chronic gastritis (an inflammation of the stomach lining, at the site of infection)
• H. Pylori has been shown to increase the COX2 levels in H. Pylori positive gastritis.

Ulcers in the stomach and duodenum results when the inflammation allow the acid in the stomach and the digestive enzyme, pepsin to override the mechanisms that protect the stomach as well as duodenal mucous membranes.

The location of colonization of H. pylori, that affects the ulcer depends on the acidity of the stomach. In those people producing large amounts of acid, H. pylori colonizes near the pyloric region (exit to the duodenum) to avoid further acid-secreting parietal cells at the fundus (near the stomach entrance).

In people producing normal or reduced amounts of acid, H. pylori can colonize the rest of the stomach.

The inflammatory response by bacteria colonizing near the pyloric region induces G cells to secrete the hormone gastrin, which travels to the parietal cells in the funds through the bloodstream to parietal cells.

Gastrin stimulates the parietal cells to secrete more and more acid into the stomach lumen, and also increases the number of parietal cells, as well.

This increased acid load will damages the duodenum, which may eventually result in ulcer forming in the duodenum.

When H. pylori colonizes other areas of the stomach, the inflammatory response can result in ulcers in the stomach. This may increase the risk of stomach cancer.

Thank you.