A genetic basis for atrophy: dominant non-responsiveness and helicobacter induced gastritis in F(1) hybrid mice.
BACKGROUND
The importance of host factors in helicobacter induced gastritis has been shown in animal models. Infection of most mouse strains with Helicobacter felis results in a functional atrophic gastritis, while other strains remain gastritis free.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate these host factors further by using genetic crosses of responder and non-responder mice.


METHODS
F(1) hybrids of the non-responder CBA/Ca strain and three strains of mice known to develop H felis induced gastritis were infected for three months with H felis. Gastritis was assessed by histopathology and serum antibody responses by ELISA.


RESULTS
Infection of CBA/Ca mice and F(1) hybrids induced little or no gastritis. Analyses of the antibody responses in these mice revealed virtually undetectable anti-helicobacter antibody levels despite colonisation with high numbers of H felis. In contrast, infection of H felis responsive strains induced gastritis and a significant humoral immune response.


CONCLUSIONS
The non-responsiveness of CBA/Ca mice to H felis infection is dominantly inherited. The lack of gastritis in CBA mice and their offspring is probably due to active suppression of the immune response normally mounted against H felis. Investigation of these mechanisms will provide important insights relevant to induction of gastric atrophy and cancer in humans.
Sutton
P
P
School of Microbiology and Immunology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Wilson
J
J
Genta
R
R
Torrey
D
D
Savinainen
A
A
Pappo
J
J
Lee
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000276:immunology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D013045:Species Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial