title: Expression of cytokine mRNA in gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Third Dept. of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashima
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Imanishi
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger