Changes in Mucosal Phospholipid‐related Protection in Some Gastric Diseases

Abstract

Background: Phospholipids play an important role in gastric mucosal protection. The purpose of the present study was to investigate changes in various phospholipids in the fundic and pyloric gland mucosae of patients with gastric mucosal disease. Methods: One hundred and five patients with superficial gastritis, duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer or gastric cancer were studied. Patients underwent endoscopy to obtain biopsy specimens from both the fundic and pyloric gland mucosae. The phospholipid contents were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: Total phospholipid level was significantly greater in the fundic gland mucosa than in the pyloric gland mucosa (P = 0.037), and the level in the fundic gland mucosa was high in all four gastric diseases studied. The difference was significant in patients with gastric ulcers (P = 0.0156). Total phospholipid levels were the highest in superficial gastritis, followed by duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. In all four gastric diseases, phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylcholine (PC) levels were high, while phosphatidylinositol, lysophosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin levels were low. The PE and PC levels were higher in the fundic gland mucosa than in the pyloric glandular mucosa, whereas the PS level was higher in the pyloric gland mucosa than in the fundic gland mucosa. Conclusions: The fundic gland mucosa has stronger phospholipid‐related protection than the pyloric gland mucosa, based on the levels of mucosal phospholipids. The main phospholipids for gastric mucosal protection are PC and PE (in the fundic gland mucosa) and PS (in the pyloric gland mucosa). Phospholipid‐related protection is strong in superficial gastritis and duodenal ulcer, but is reduced in the pyloric gland mucosa in patients with gastric ulcers, and in both gastric gland mucosae in patients with gastric cancer.