Serum and tissue beta-2 microglobulin levels in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background And Aim: Beta-2 microglobulin (beta2-m) is a minor plasma protein, secreted from the plasma membranes as a result of the continuous regeneration of membrane proteins in the cell surface of all nucleated cells. The relationship between Helicobacter pylori and beta2-m has not been adequately established in studies. In this study, we aimed to compare the levels of serum and tissue beta2-m in patients with and without H. pylori infection, and to examine the relationship between levels of serum and tissue beta2-m.

Material And Methods: About 30 patients with H. pylori gastritis and 22 healthy persons were enrolled in this study. Gastric biopsies were histologically analyzed and compared according to tissue and serum beta2-m levels.

Results: Serum beta2-m levels were comparable in H. pylori and control groups. There was no significant link between tissue H. pylori grade and serum beta2-m levels. Subendothelial beta2-m was detected in 19 (63.3%) cases with H. pylori and none of the control group with immunohistochemical staining (P < 0.001). There was no correlation between serum and tissue levels of beta2-m.

Conclusion: beta2-m accumulates in the majority of gastric tissues of patients with active chronic gastritis who were H. pylori (+), whereas no accumulation was found in H. pylori (-) control subjects.