Comparison of the effects of rebamipide with those of cimetidine on chronic gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori in Mongolian gerbils.
OBJECTIVE
The effects of rebamipide on chronic gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori have not been well-defined. We compared these effects of rebamipide with those of cimetidine in Mongolian gerbils infected with H. pylori.


METHODS
Mongolian gerbils with or without H. pylori were divided into 10 groups 6 weeks after inoculation and fed diets containing a drug (rebamipide or cimetidine) or control diet. All animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after grouping. Their stomachs were examined for histology, colonization by H. pylori, myeloperoxidase activity (myeloperoxidase), production of neutrophil chemokine (CINC/KC) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and serum gastrin levels.


RESULTS
H. pylori colonized all of the inoculated animals. Neither rebamipide nor cimetidine decreased myeloperoxidase activity, but each reduced wet stomach weight in H. pylori-infected animals. The amount of increase in CINC/KC and TNF-alpha in gastric tissue caused by H. pylori infection was decreased by treatment with rebamipide or cimetidine. H. pylori infection increased serum gastrin levels, and this increase was significantly enhanced by cimetidine but not rebamipide.


CONCLUSIONS
Rebamipide may improve H. pylori-infected chronic gastritis by preventing the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as does cimetidine, but may be preferable to cimetidine for long-term administration for treatment of H. pylori-infected chronic gastritis due to its effect on serum gastrin levels.
Higuchi
K
K
Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. khiguchi@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Tanigawa
T
T
Hamaguchi
M
M
Takashima
T
T
Sasaki
E
E
Shiba
M
M
Tominaga
K
K
Fujiwara
Y
Y
Oshitani
N
N
Matsumoto
T
T
Watanabe
T
T
Arakawa
T
T
D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D018925:Chemokines; D005755:Gastrins; D015363:Quinolones; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002927:Cimetidine; D009195:Peroxidase; C052785:rebamipide; D000409:Alanine