Higher levels of Salivary MUC5B in individuals with Helicobacter pylori

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of salivary antigen MUC5B and Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) in the stomach of individuals with dyspeptic disease compared to individuals without dyspeptic disease. Methods: 30 individuals with dyspeptic disease, who underwent endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal complaints at Hospital Pedro Ernesto-RJ, Brasil and tested positive for H. pylori, and 23 controls with no dyspeptic disease, with mean age 53.5 + 4.4 years, were included in the study. Saliva samples and 3 antral biopsies were taken for PCR analysis and histologic examination. In addition, saliva samples were tested by ELISA with F2 monoclonal antibody to determine MUC5B levels, prior to endoscopic examination. The expression pattern of the proteins was quantified by comparison with a pooled saliva sample of 19 healthy volunteers. Results: MUC5B salivary levels were higher in the individuals with dyspeptic disease than in controls. 33,3%(9/30) of the dyspeptic individuals and 0% of the controls had H.pylori in the oral cavity. Conclusions: Individuals with gastric diseases, with H. pylori in the stomach, showed higher levels of salivary H. pylori receptors – MUC5B – than individuals without gastric disease. These results suggest that higher levels of specific salivary mucins could be useful as risk indicators for infection by H. pylori.