Modulation of gastric mucosal calcium channel activity by mucus glycoprotein

Rat gastric mucous gel layer contains sialomucin not produced by the stomach

The sialylated mucus components of the normal gastric mucosa and mucous gel layer of rats were studied by using various histochemical staining methods including Maackia amurensis II (MAL-II) and Sambucus nigra (SNA) lectins, alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5 -- periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and high iron diamine (HID) -- AB pH 2.5. The acidic and neutral mucins characterized by the AB-PAS staining were abundantly present in the mucous gel layer as well as in the gastric mucosa. The sialomucin characterized by HID-AB was barely found in either the mucous gel layer or the mucosa. The sialomucin positive to MAL-II and SNA, which react with the N-acetyl neuraminic acid residue linked to galactose via an alpha-linkage, was moderately detected only in the mucous gel layer, but not in the entire mucosal layer. Furthermore, in animals given surgery to form an esophageal fistula through which saliva was excluded or in animals subjected to salivectomy, the mucous gel layer stained with MAL-II and SNA lectins was markedly decreased. These results indicate that a part of the sialomucin containing-mucous gel layer covering normal rat gastric mucosa originates from the saliva and that MAL-II and SNA lectins are useful for detecting this specific sialomucin.

Sulfomucins in the human body

Mucins are widely distributed in mucous secretion fluids or are associated with plasma membranes. Up to now 9 genes of epithelial mucins have been identified, distributed over five chromosomes. Superposed on the genetic diversity, each type of mucin displays heterogeneity in oligosaccharide composition, including the terminal sugar residues. On top of that there is variation between individuals brought about by blood group antigens. Heterogeneity is further incited by the degree of sulfation. This tremendous structural heterogeneity endows mucin molecules with properties suggestive for a multifunctional role. The major biological function assigned to mucins is still the protection of tissues covered by the mucous gel. Current knowledge on the specific biological functions of the sulfate residues is fragmentary and periphrastic. Glycosylation including sulfation appears to be subject to modification under pathological conditions. There is evidence that sulfation rate-limits bacterial degradation of mucins. Moreover, accumulating data focus towards their involvement in recognition phenomena. Sulfate residues on blood group related structures provoke specific epitopes for selective interaction with microorganisms e.g. Helicobacter pylori. A distinct class of mucins acts as ligands for selectins, crucial in cellular recognition processes like cellular homing of lymphocytes. Whereas in earlier days mucins were only seen as water-binding molecules, protecting the underlying mucosa against harmful agents, the current picture of these molecules is characterized by the selective interaction with their environment, including epithelial-, and endothelial cells and microorganisms, thereby regulating a great number of biological processes. However, the specific role of sulfate remains to be further elucidated.

Inhibition of gastric mucosal mucin receptor by Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide: effect of sulglycotide

1. A receptor for mucin was isolated from the solubilized gastric epithelial cell membrane by affinity chromatography on Sepharose-bound wheat germ agglutinin. 2. The receptor protein displayed a molecular weight of 97 kDa and exhibited specific affinity towards mucin-coated surfaces. The optimum for mucin binding occurred at 60-100 micrograms/ml, while the values for the receptor were 2.0-3.1 micrograms/ml. 3. The mucin binding to the receptor was susceptible to Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide which caused maximum inhibition of 91% at 30 mu/ml. This inhibitory effect of the lipopolysaccharide was abolished by a gastroprotective agent, sulglycotide. 4. The effect of sulglycotide was dose dependent and at 50 micrograms/ml produced a 94% restoration in receptor-mucin binding. Furthermore, sulglycotide was also capable of enhancing (97%) the mucin binding to its receptor in the absence of the lipopolysaccharide. 5. The results demonstrate that H. pylori through its lipopolysaccharide interferes in the interaction of mucin with gastric epithelial surfaces and that a gastroprotective agent, sulglycotide, counteracts this effect, and hence is capable of preventing the loss of mucin coat continuity occurring with H. pylori infection.

Gastroprotective agents in mucosal defense against Helicobacter pylori

1. Convincing evidence now exists that infection with H. pylori plays a major role in the pathogenesis of gastric disease. Having a niche bordering two major perimeters of mucosal defenses, the bacterium apparently exerts its detrimental effect on the mucus layer as well as the gastric epithelium. Therefore, gastroprotective agents capable of counteracting these detrimental effects of H. pylori are gaining importance in the treatment of gastric disease. 2. The colonization of gastric mucosa by H. pylori involves specific glycolipid receptors bearing acidic substituents, a process inhibited by gastric sulfomucins. Two antiulcer agents bearing sulfated sugar groups have been demonstrated to possess the ability to interfere with H. pylori colonization process. These are sucralfate and sulglycotide. The two agents are also potent inhibitors of H. pylori glycosulfatase activity directed against indigenous mucosal defenses. 3. A variety of extracellular enzymes such as proteases, lipases and phospholipases, elaborated by H. pylori cause the weakening of the integrity of gastric mucus coat and render the underlying epithelium vulnerable to noxious luminal contents. Among the most potent agents capable of countering the proteolytic activity of H. pylori are nitecapone, ebrotidine and sulglycotide, while ebrotidine and sulglycotide were found to be most effective inhibitors of H. pylori lipolytic activities. 4. The gastric epithelial integrity is compromized by the H. pylori cell-wall lipopolysaccharide untoward effect on the epithelial surface receptors. The interference of the lipopolysaccharide with the laminin receptor was found to be most efficiently countered by ebrotidine, sulglycotide and sucralfate, whereas sulglycotide is the most potent in the reversal of the inhibitory effect of the lipopolysaccharide on mucin receptor binding.