Eosinophil Cationic Protein and Phospholipase A₂ Activity in Human Gastric Juice: With Emphasis on Helicobacter pylori Status and Effects of Antacids

Abstract

To elucidate possible new effects of antacids, gastric juice from 15 volunteers with known Helicobacter pylori status were analysed for eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activity, phosphatidylcholine (PC), and bile acids (BA) before and after administration of one tablet of antacid or placebo in a double blind cross-over design. Geomtric mean ECP concentrations were more than 13 times higher in gastric juice from H. pylori-positive (12.9 μg/l) than from H. pylori-negative (0.97 μg/l) subjects (p = 0.0032). Geometric mean PLA₂ activity was 1.31 U/l for the negative subjects and 4.02 U/l for the positive subjects (p = 0.13). There were no differences between positive and negative subjects with regard to either PC or BA concentration. Regardless of H. pylori status, mean PC concentration increased significantly after antacids as compared with placebo (p = 0.024). The effect of antacids did not differ significantly from placebo for ECP, PLA₂ activity, or BA concentration. Hence, antacids may not act by binding ‘toxic’ H. pylori-associated gastric juice components like ECP or PLA₂. Increased concentration of PC may indicate an increased protective capacity induced by antacids.

Key Words:

• Antacids
• bile acids
• eosinophil cationic protein
• Helicobacter pylori
• pH
• phosphatidylcholine
• phospholipase A₂