title: Specific T cell responses to Helicobacter pylori predict successful eradication therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our prospective study was to test a specific T cell response to Helicobacter pylori before therapy and compare it to the success of H. pylori eradication 12 months later.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 14 dyspeptic patients and 10 patients with previous H. pylori eradication failure were recruited into the study; before therapy their gastric samples for H. pylori cultivation and blood samples for dendritic cell cultivation were obtained. H. pylori antigens were produced to prime dendritic cells for stimulation of T lymphocyte response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of cytokine response by T cells was measured and results were compared with the success of H. pylori eradication one year later. There was a significantly increased response in expression of IFN-gamma and IL-4 molecules by DCs stimulated T cells in subjects that successfully eradicated H. pylori compared with those who failed to eradicate the infection. Our results support the hypothesis that successful H. pylori eradication requires established anti-H. pylori immune response besides antibiotic treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective IFN-gamma cytokine response to H. pylori antigens seems to be of particular importance. Immunisation could be therefore beneficial for H. pylori eradication, while immunodeficiency could cause the failure in H. pylori eradication.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kopitar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stegel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tepes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gubina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novaković
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ihan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma