Omeprazole and regulation of cytokine profile in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients with duodenal ulcer disease.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the cytokine profile in Helicobacter pylori-positive patients with duodenal ulcers treated with omeprazole.


METHODS
The subjects were 22 patients with endoscopically defined active duodenal ulcers and H. pylori infection treated with omeprazole for 3 months after initial 1-week triple therapy. Peripheral blood CD3+ CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, percentage of HLA-DR+ peripheral blood lymphocytes, and cytokine levels (GM-CSF, IL-6 and IL-2) were measured in the supernatants from PHA-cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes at baseline conditions and after 3-months' omeprazole treatment.


RESULTS
The H. pylori eradication triple regimen cured H. pylori infection in 86.4% of our patients. Peripheral blood CD3+ CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were not affected by omeprazole treatment (P > 0.05), whereas the percentage of HLA-DR+ peripheral blood lymphocytes increased significantly post-treatment (P < 0.05). All cytokine levels measured in the supernatants showed a significant decrease after treatment (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The significant decrease in the two pro-inflammatory cytokines (GM-CSF, IL-6) and the major inflammatory cytokine IL-2, implies that the potential cytokine synthesis of the Th1 pattern from peripheral blood lymphocytes is highly suppressed after treatment. This effect on cytokine regulation seems to be a result of the positive H. pylori infection outcome at the immunological level, which leads to "normalization" of cytokine production.
Kountouras
J
J
Department of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital, Greece. jannis@med.auth.gr
Boura
P
P
Lygidakis
N J
NJ
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D009853:Omeprazole