Adhesion molecule expression on gastric intra-epithelial lymphocytes of patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression of adhesion molecules on gastric intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs) from patients infected with Helicobacter pylori.


METHODS
The expression of adhesion molecules and T-cell activation markers by gastric IELs from patients with gastritis or duodenal ulceration was examined using two-colour flow cytometry. Ten of the patients were H. pylori positive and eight were H. pylori negative.


RESULTS
Expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) on IELs was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in patients with H. pylori infection than in patients negative for H. pylori. There were no significant differences in the expression on IELs of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), human mucosal lymphocyte (antigen)-1 (HML-1), very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) or CD43 between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative individuals. In addition, the transferrin receptor, a maker associated with proliferation and activation, was found on a small population of IELs from H. pylori-positive individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
A reduction in the expression of LFA-1 has previously been reported on activation of IELs. The finding of reduced LFA-1 expression and increased transferrin receptor expression on IELs from H. pylori-positive individuals suggests that activation of these cells is associated with H. pylori infection.
Fan
X
X
Department of Clinical Medicine, St. James' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Long
A
A
Fan
X
X
Keeling
P W
PW
Kelleher
D
D
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000096:biosynthesis
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin