A predominant Th1 type of immune response is induced early during acute Helicobacter pylori infection in rhesus macaques.
OBJECTIVE
The immune response of gastric T cells during acute Helicobacter pylori infection has not been previously characterized. The aim of this study was to delineate the phenotypic and functional responses of gastric T cells during acute H. pylori infection of rhesus macaques.


METHODS
Four monkeys were experimentally infected with H. pylori. Gastric biopsy specimens and peripheral blood samples were obtained 1 and 12 weeks after inoculation. Samples from 3 animals uninfected with H. pylori served as controls. The immunophenotypic changes and functional potential of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in gastric mucosa and peripheral blood to produce cytokines (interleukin [IL]-2, IL-4, IL-13, interferon [IFN]-gamma, MIP-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha) were determined at a single cell level using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
An increase in CD4(+) T cells occurred in the gastric mucosa during acute H. pylori infection as early as 1 week after infection. Acute infection was characterized by a predominantly T helper (Th)1 (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and proinflammatory (TNF-alpha and MIP-1beta) type of cytokine response and the absence of a Th2 type of response.


CONCLUSIONS
A predominant Th1 type response was induced early during acute H. pylori infection and may contribute to the development of gastric disease.
Mattapallil
J J
JJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Dandekar
S
S
Canfield
D R
DR
Solnick
J V
JV
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma