Effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin levels in Mongolian gerbils.
OBJECTIVE
Body gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori infection appears to inhibit gastric acid secretion. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of H pylori infection on gastric acid secretion and clarify its mechanisms with reference to interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta).


METHODS
(1) Mongolian gerbils were inoculated orally with H pylori. Before, six, and 12 weeks after inoculation, serum gastrin levels, gastric acid output, and IL-1beta mRNA levels in the gastric mucosa were determined. Pathological changes were also determined according to the updated Sydney system. (2) Effects of recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist (rhIL-1ra) on gastric acid output and serum gastrin levels were also determined.


RESULTS
(1) Scores for activity and inflammation of gastritis and serum gastrin levels were significantly increased, and gastric acid output was significantly decreased six and 12 weeks after inoculation with H pylori. IL-1beta mRNA levels in the gastric mucosa were also elevated six and 12 weeks after inoculation with H pylori. (2) Acid output and serum gastrin levels in the infected groups returned to control levels after rhIL-1ra injection.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric acid secretion is decreased and serum gastrin levels are increased in Mongolian gerbils infected with H pylori. This change in gastric acid secretion appears to be mediated by IL-1beta induced by H pylori infection.
Takashima
M
M
First Department of Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan. takam@h7.dion.ne.jp
Furuta
T
T
Hanai
H
H
Sugimura
H
H
Kaneko
E
E
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D005755:Gastrins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D005755:Gastrins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1