title: Hypotheses on the pathogenesis and natural history of Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation.
abstract: Although Helicobacter pylori is now recognized as playing an etiologic role in chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, information on the pathogenesis and natural history of infection is limited. A model is proposed in which luminal H. pylori secrete substances that mediate inflammation that is beneficial to the organism but ultimately deleterious for the host; in addition to tissue damage, inflammation also affects gastric secretory function. In this model, the host may attempt to suppress the inflammatory response, and the adequacy of this postulated down-regulation determines pathological and clinical outcome. The effects of the inflammatory process on gastrin-hydrochloric acid homeostasis may be of critical importance in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease. Because the long-term consequences of H. pylori colonization reflect the continued presence of the organism in the host over years or decades, it may be useful to consider this as a "slow" bacterial infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blaser
mesh_terms: D005756:Gastritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology