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CagA-Positive Helicobacter pylori Strains Enhanced Coronary Atherosclerosis by Increasing Serum OxLDL and HsCRP in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

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Abstract

Background

The role of infection in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is still a matter of debate.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the effect of CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains infection on coronary atherosclerosis in patients with coronary heart disease and to elucidate how cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA)-positive H. pylori strains infections were involved in coronary heart disease by examining the levels of serum lipid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and oxidized low-density protein (oxLDL).

Methods

Recruited for this study were 159 patients with coronary heart disease. The severity of coronary heart disease was estimated by calculating the Gensini score. Serum oxLDL and hsCRP were examined in all subjects. Current H. pylori infection was determined in all participants by means of a modified (13C) urea breath test (>200 dpm classified as positive). IgG antibodies against CagA protein were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays. Antibody titers against CagA (≥8 U/ml) were classified as positive. All subjects were divided into three groups, including an uninfected group (n = 30), an H. pylori +CagA− group (n = 69), and an H. pylori +CagA+ group (n = 60).

Results

Significant differences were found among the three groups in levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, serum hsCRP, oxLDL, and severity of coronary atherosclerosis (p < 0.05). The levels of total cholesterol, LDL, apolipoprotein B, serum hsCRP, oxLDL were significantly elevated and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis was significantly increased in H. pylori +CagA+ group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

More serious coronary atherosclerosis was observed in CHD patients with H. pylori +CagA+ infection. H. pylori +CagA+ infection might be involved in coronary atherosclerosis by modifying serum lipids, enhancing LDL oxidation, and activating the inflammatory responses.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Mr. Wenbiao Zhu and Department of Medical Technology for their technical assistance. This study was supported by the Natural Scientific Research Fund of the Panyu District of Guangdong Province (No:2007-Z-79-1).

Conflicts of interest statement

We have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, The He Xian Memorial Hospital of Panyu District, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Bingsheng Huang, Ying Chen, Qiang Xie, Guixiong Lin, Yuyan Wu, Yanlin Feng, Jingcao Li, Yufeng Zhuo & Peng Zhang

  2. 2nd, Qinghe Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China

    Bingsheng Huang

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  1. Bingsheng Huang
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Correspondence to Bingsheng Huang.

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Huang, B., Chen, Y., Xie, Q. et al. CagA-Positive Helicobacter pylori Strains Enhanced Coronary Atherosclerosis by Increasing Serum OxLDL and HsCRP in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease. Dig Dis Sci 56, 109–114 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1274-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1274-6

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