Flow Cytometry Analysis of DNA Content and Cell Proliferation of Gastric Mucosal Cells in Chronic Gastritis

Background: Chronic atrophic gastritis is defined as a precancerous condition of gastric cancer. It has been reported that the cell DNA content increases from normal gastric mucosa to precancerous lesions and gastric cancer. Aims: To analyze the DNA content and cell proliferation of gastric mucosal cells in chronic gastritis by using flow cytometry, and to investigate their clinical significances in the development of chronic gastritis. Methods: Gastric mucosal biopsy specimens were obtained from 90 chronic gastritis patients diagnosed by gastroscopy. Single cell suspension was prepared to analyze the DNA content and cell proliferation with flow cytometry. Results: The diploid DNA was found in all gastric mucosal cells of chronic gastritis, but the proliferation index (PI) of gastric mucosal cells in chronic atrophic gastritis and chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia increased more significantly than that in chronic non-atrophic gastritis (P0.05). Except for the chronic non-atrophic gastritis, the PI of gastric mucosal cells in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive chronic gastritis patients increased also significantly more than that in H. pylori-negative ones (P0.05). Conclusions: The proliferation activity of gastric mucosal cells increases in chronic atrophic gastritis and H. pylori-positive chronic gastritis. The DNA content and cell proliferation of gastric mucosal cells analyzed by flow cyto-metry may be served as a reference in the pathological diagnosis of precancerous condition and precancerous lesion of gastric cancer.