ANÁLISE DA EXPRESSÃO DAS GALECTINAS 1, 3 E 9 EM BIÓPSIAS DE MUCOSA DO ANTRO GÁSTRICO DE PACIENTES COM QUEIXA DIGESTIVA ALTA.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the expression of Galectins (Gal) -1, -3 and -9 in biopsies of the gastric antrum of patients with upper gastrointestinal complaint. METHODOLOGY: 44 patients with upper digestive tract symptoms were evaluated, and underwent Upper Digestive Endoscopy examination. Sections of the gastric antrum were fixed in buffered formaldehyde at 4% in order to perform the anatomopathological examination and immunohistochemical analysis of Galectins-1, -3 and -9. The other, fresh, section of gastric antrum was placed in RNAlater for DNA extraction and evaluation of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Gal-3 was found to be significantly higher in the stroma of patients with active gastritis (p <0.05) and in patients with H. pylori infection (p <0.05). Gal-1 was significantly higher in the stroma than in the epithelium (p <0.05), whereas Gal-9 was more expressed in the epithelium than in the stroma (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Modulation of Gal-3 expression is associated with H. pylori infection and with the inflammatory process characterized as active gastritis.