title: Helicobacter pylori infection and tumour necrosis factor-alpha increase gastrin release from human gastric antral fragments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanism of the hypergastrinaemia associated with Helicobacter pylori infection by examining the effect of H. pylori infection and the cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on gastrin release from human antral fragments.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-vitro experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human antral biopsy fragments were cultured for 6 h with and without TNF-alpha (20 ng/ml) and the gastrin released over the following 2-h stimulation period measured by radioimmunoassay. The integrity of the paracrine feedback loop inhibiting gastrin release was tested by concurrent administration of cholecystokinin (CCK).
  
  
  RESULTS
  H. pylori-positive fragments were associated with significantly greater bombesin-stimulated gastrin release (increased by 40%, P < 0.05) and less inhibition produced by CCK administration (decreased by 55%, P < 0.05), than H. pylori-negative fragments. TNF-alpha treatment of H. pylori-negative fragments significantly enhanced bombesin-stimulated gastrin release (by 82%, P < 0.01) and diminished inhibitory feedback by CCK (by 53%, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  H. pylori infection is associated with enhanced gastrin release from human antrum and TNF-alpha produces a similar effect. Proinflammatory cytokines generated in the antrum in response to the infection are likely to play a significant role in the hypergastrinaemia of H. pylori infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Beales
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calam
mesh_terms: D001839:Bombesin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D001839:Bombesin