Increased CD177 expression is associated with helicobacter pylori-related gastritis

Objective: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is an important cause of gastritis, and neutrophils is involved in the inflammation secondary to HP infection. CD177 expression significantly increases on the circulating neutrophils in response to bacterial infection and is involved in the pathogenesis of some clinical diseases. Currently, the relationship between CD177 and Hp-related gastritis is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between CD177 expression and Hp-related gastritis. Methods: Paraffin embedded gastric mucosal samples (n=79) were collected by biopsy from patients with gastritis. Of these, Warthin-Starry silver staining showed Hp infection in 45 patients, and HP infection was excluded in remaining 34 patients. Their inflammation scores, CD177 expression and correlation between inflammation score and CD177 expression were further analyzed. Results: Patients with Hp-related gastritis had higher inflammation scores than in those without HP infection (P=0.001), and that the CD177 expression in HP infection group was significantly higher than in HP-naive group (P=0.000). Conclusion: Elevated CD177 expression is correlated with HP-related gastritis and CD177 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HP-related gastritis.