Chemokines in the gastric mucosa in Helicobacter pylori infection.
BACKGROUND
Although chemokines have been suggested to play an important role in Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis, few studies have investigated the role of chemokines other than interleukin 8 (IL-8) in gastric mucosa.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and production patterns of various chemokines using gastric biopsy specimens.


METHODS
In 192 patients, expression patterns of C-X-C chemokines (IL-8 and growth regulated alpha (GRO alpha)) and C-C chemokines (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), and MIP-1 beta) were examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). cagA gene was identified using PCR.


RESULTS
H pylori infection was associated with increased rates of expression of mRNA for IL-8, GRO alpha, RANTES, and MIP-1 alpha and with increased levels of mucosal IL-8 and GRO alpha. IL-8 and GRO alpha levels correlated with the density of H pylori in both the antrum and corpus. The levels of these chemokines correlated with cellular infiltration in the antrum but not the corpus. cagA gene positive H pylori infection was associated with increased rates of expression of mRNA for IL-8 and GRO alpha and with increased levels of these chemokines.


CONCLUSIONS
H pylori infection is associated with increased expression rates and production of C-X-C chemokines (IL-8 and GRO alpha), but not with increased production of C-C chemokines. Although H pylori infection is associated with increased C-X-C chemokines in the antrum and corpus, there is a difference in the inflammatory response between these two areas of the stomach.
Yamaoka
Y
Y
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Kita
M
M
Kodama
T
T
Sawai
N
N
Tanahashi
T
T
Kashima
K
K
Imanishi
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000235:genetics; D054360:Chemokine CXCL1; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011706:Pyloric Antrum; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
C475829:CXCL1 protein, human; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D054360:Chemokine CXCL1; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016209:Interleukin-8; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger