Alterations of Fucosyltransferase Genes and Fucosylated Glycans in Gastric Epithelial Cells Infected with Helicobacter pylori

( ) adhesion to human gastric epithelial cells is closely linked with fucosylated glycans. Therefore, investigation of fucosylation in the interaction of gastric epithelial cells with is critical. In this study we used lectin microarrays to detect the expression of fucosylated glycans in gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) infected with strains isolated from patients with different diseases including chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcers, and gastric cancer (each containing two strains) at 4 h. In addition, we investigated the time-course expression of fucosyltransferase (FUT) 1-6 genes in GES-1 cells stimulated with strains at 0.5-8 h. At 4 h post-infection, Lotus, AAA, BC2LCN, PA-IIL, CNL and ACG lectins had increased signals in -infected GES-1 cells compared to uninfected cells. Higher expression of FUT1 and FUT2 was detected in all -infected GES-1 cells within 2 h, regardless of the strain. In particular, the expression of FUT2 was higher in -infected GES-1 cells with a higher fold change in levels of BC2LCN lectin specific to α1-2 linked fucose (Fuc) at 4 h. The results suggest that the high levels of α1, 2-linked Fuc synthesized by FUT1/2, might play a role in the preliminary stage of infection. This provides us with pivotal information to understand the adhesion of to human gastric epithelial cells.