Sulfated glycosaminoglycan composition of human gastric mucosa: effect of aging, chronic superficial gastritis and adenocarcinoma.

The sulfated glycosaminoglycan (SGAG) composition of gastric mucosa from 24 patients with chronic superficial gastritis, 2 patients with adenocarcinoma and 36 normal subjects is reported. The mucosa was obtained by endoscopic biopsy and after histopathological examination the SGAG were extracted and characterized. Three different SGAG were isolated: chondroitin 4,6-sulfate, dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate. Their relative concentrations for the different groups were submitted to analysis of variance by Scheffe's method. Different SGAG compositions were observed in two gastric regions (antrum and body), in chronic superficial gastritis, in adenocarcinoma and in two age groups (less than 40 years and greater than 40 years). These and other results suggest that these macromolecules might be involved in the processes of cell division and aging.