title: Enhanced gastric IL-18 mRNA expression in Helicobacter pylori-infected children is associated with macrophage infiltration, IL-8, and IL-1 beta mRNA expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate IL-18 mRNA expression in the gastric mucosa in Helicobacter pylori-infected children and its association with macrophage infiltration, IL-8, and IL-1 beta mRNA expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 39 children, blood samples were taken for IL-1 beta gene polymorphism analysis and antral biopsies were obtained for histology (including macrophage immunostaining), culture and semiquantitative analysis of IL-18, IL-8, IL-1 beta, and CD14 mRNA expression by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). RT-PCR was used for H. pylori ureA and cagA mRNA detection in gastric tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  H. pylori-infected patients had significantly higher IL-18, IL-8, and IL-1 beta transcript levels and macrophage numbers in the antral mucosa than H. pylori-negative children. IL-1 beta-511/31 gene polymorphism had no impact on gastric IL-1 beta mRNA levels. IL-18 mRNA expression correlated with mRNA expression of IL-8 and IL-1 beta, and transcript levels of all three cytokines were associated with macrophage infiltration and CD14 mRNA expression in the gastric tissue. Significant correlation was also observed between macrophage numbers and histological parameters of gastritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that interleukin(IL)-18 and macrophages may have an important function in gastric inflammatory response to H. pylori infection in children. IL-18, and possibly CD14 receptor signalling pathway, may be involved in macrophage activation and subsequent IL-8 and IL-1 beta release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dzierzanowska-Fangrat
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michalkiewicz
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cielecka-Kuszyk
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Celinska-Cedro
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rozynek
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dzierzanowska
authors.forename: Jean E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Crabtree
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D053583:Interleukin-1beta