Modulation of Galectin-3 and Galectin 9 in gastric mucosa of patients with chronic gastritis and positive Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract Objectives Galectins are mediators that play an important role in the inflammatory response and in this study we analyzed the expression of Galectins (Gal) −1, −3 and −9 in biopsies of the gastric antrum of patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. 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 for Galectins-1, −3 and −9 expression. Fresh sections of gastric antrum were used for DNA extraction and evaluation of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ). P values  Results Gal-1 was significantly more expressed on stroma than epithelium (p  H. pylori infection, mainly on Cag-A positive H. pylori (p  Conclusion Up modulation of Gal-3 expression was associated with H. pylori infection and down modulation of Gal-9 with the inflammatory process of chronic gastritis.