BCA-1 is highly expressed in Helicobacter pylori-induced mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and gastric lymphoma.
Infection with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) induces the formation of lymphoid tissue in the stomach and the occasional development of primary gastric B-cell lymphomas. We have studied the expression of 2 chemokines that attract B lymphocytes, BCA-1 and SLC, in gastric tissue samples obtained from patients with chronic gastritis induced by Hp infection or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as from patients with Hp-associated low-grade and high-grade gastric lymphomas. High-level expression of BCA-1 and its receptor, CXCR5, was observed in all mucosal lymphoid aggregates and in the mantle zone of all secondary lymphoid follicles in Hp-induced gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Follicular dendritic cells and B lymphocytes are possible sources of BCA-1, which is not expressed by T lymphocytes, macrophages, or CD1a(+) dendritic cells. Strong expression of BCA-1 and CXCR5 was also detected in the transformed B cells of gastric MALT lymphomas. By contrast, SLC was confined almost exclusively to endothelial cells in and outside the lymphoid tissue. Only scant, occasional SLC expression was observed in the marginal zone of MALT follicles. Our findings indicate that BCA-1, which functions as a homing chemokine in normal lymphoid tissue, is induced in chronic Hp gastritis and is involved in the formation of lymphoid follicles and gastric lymphomas of the MALT type.
Mazzucchelli
L
L
Institute of Pathology, and Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Blaser
A
A
Kappeler
A
A
Schärli
P
P
Laissue
J A
JA
Baggiolini
M
M
Uguccioni
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; C110663:CXCL13 protein, human; C095085:CXCR5 protein, human; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine