Expression of cytokine mRNA in gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori infection.
BACKGROUND
We have studied the cytokine production patterns in gastric mucosal biopsy specimens with and without the Helicobacter pylori infection, using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method capable of detecting low levels of specific mRNA.


METHODS
Total RNA was prepared from biopsy specimens with the acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method. cDNA was synthesized by M-MLV RTase and amplified using the oligonucleotide primers specific for interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), IFN-beta, and IFN-gamma by PCR methods.


RESULTS
Although IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma mRNA were detected in most specimens, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, TNF-alpha, and IFN-beta mRNA were not detected at all. The expressions of IL-7 and IL-8 mRNA were significantly higher in H. pylori-positive gastritis than in H. pylori-negative normal controls. There was a significant correlation between the expression of IL-8 mRNA and the severity of gastritis both in the antrum and in the corpus. On the other hand, there was a significant correlation between the expression of IL-7 mRNA and the severity of gastritis only in the corpus.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that some cytokines, especially IL-7 and IL-8, play some roles in H. pylori-associated gastritis.
Yamaoka
Y
Y
Third Dept. of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Kita
M
M
Kodama
T
T
Sawai
N
N
Kashima
K
K
Imanishi
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger