title: Detection of a Helicobacter pylori antigen in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis.
abstract: Meningitis is a common life threatening disease which may be caused by a bacterium, fungus, or virus. Here, the presence of a Helicobacter pylori antigen was investigated in serum and CSF samples from 173 individuals with meningitis. The influence of H. pylori infection on CSF levels of Thl/Th2 cytokines was also evaluated. H. pylori antigen was detected using ELISA and Western blot based on specific anti-H. pylori antibody. Thl/Th2 cytokines (IFN-gamma & IL-10, respectively) were also determined. A target epitope of 58-kDa was detected in selected CSF and serum samples using Western blot. H. pylori antigen was detected in the CSF samples of 75% of meningitis patients showing H. pylori antigen in their sera. A significant correlation (p < 0.001, r = 0.21) was shown between serum and CSF levels of 58-kDa H. pylori antigen. Only the levels of Thl cytokine (IFN-gamma) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in CSF of meningitis patients positive for H. pylori antigen than negative patients with meningitis. In conclusion, the 58-kDa H. pylori antigen crossed the blood brain barrier and entered the CSF of patients with meningitis. A significant upregulation of Thl response may be associated with H. pylori infection in patients with meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, New Damietta City, Egypt. amattallah@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Abdelfattah M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Attallah
authors.forename: Elshahat A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Toson
authors.forename: Gellan G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Nora E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Bakr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines