Antrum- and corpus mucosa-infiltrating CD4(+) lymphocytes in Helicobacter pylori gastritis display a Th1 phenotype.
In this study, cytokine patterns produced by CD4(+) T cells isolated from antrum or corpus gastral biopsy specimens of 10 patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive gastritis were compared. To this end, expression of intracellular cytokines (interleukin-4 [IL-4] and gamma interferon) and of CD4 was assessed by flow cytometry. Ten to 60% of the isolated CD4(+) T cells produced gamma interferon upon stimulation. With the exception of one patient, IL-4-positive CD4(+) cells were not detected. Therefore, CD4(+) cells infiltrating antrum and corpus stomach mucosa during H. pylori infection show a Th1 phenotype. This polarized Th1-type response may contribute to the inability of the immune system to eradicate H. pylori infection.
Institut für Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. sommer@mikrobio.med.uni.erlangen.de
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Sommer
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Faller
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Konturek
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Kirchner
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Hahn
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Zeus
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Röllinghoff
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Lohoff
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology