Is the lung a new site by Helicobacter pylori´s infection?

ARISMENDI SOSA AC, ; SALINAS IBAÑEZ AG, ; PIGUILLEM SN, ; FERRAMOLA FF, ; BIAGGIO VS, ; PERÉZ CHACA MV, ; GOMÉZ NN, ; VEGA AE

San Luis

Congreso; XXXII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2014

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the gastric mucosaof 50% of the world populationcausing chronic gastritis andpepticulcer, beingthe principal cause of gastric adenocarcinoma. In recent years, ithas shownevidence of theparticipation of H. pylori in extradigestive inflammatorydiseases, especially inrespiratoryillnesseslikeasthma, bronchiectasis and chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease.Little is known about the impact of H. pylori infection on lung. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of H. pylori infectionon lung. Mice were infected by orotracheal instillation with 20 μl of 1 ×108 cfu/mlH. pylori reference strain. After3 days of infection, the mice were sacrificed, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and lungs of eachmouse were aseptically removed. Uninfected mice were used as controls.The number of bacteria in lung wasdetermined by homogenization of these organs in saline solution, plating of the homogenates on Mueller-Hintonagar, and counting of colony-forming units (CFU) after incubation at 37 °C for 72 h. The bacterial recovery was2.3×103 cfu/mlin infected mice. From the BAL, a smear was made and cell counts were performed after Giemsastaining. The counts showed 85% macrophages, 10% lymphocytes and 5% neutrophils in the infected mice. Thelungs from the uninfected animals did not show histopathological features and the counts showed 95%macrophages and 5% neutrophils. Hematoxylin-eosin-stained lungsof infected mice revealed foci of mildinflammatory infiltration of bronchioles and adjacent alveoli. This is the first study that demonstrates aninflammatory response, morphological changes and bacterial recovery after H. pylori infection in mice lungs. Thismay be possible in patients with duodenogastric reflux, when the spilling or inhalation of H. pylori into therespiratory tract could occur.