title: Evidence for transepithelial dendritic cells in human H. pylori active gastritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite extensive experimental investigation stressing the importance of bacterial interaction with dendritic cells (DCs), evidence regarding direct interaction of Helicobacter pylori or its virulence products with DCs in the human gastric mucosa is lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human gastric mucosa biopsies, with or without H. pylori infection and active inflammation, were investigated at light and electron microscopy level with immunocytochemical tests for bacterial products (VacA, urease, outer membrane proteins) and DC markers (DC-SIGN, CD11c, CD83) or with the DC-labeling ZnI(2)-OsO(4 )technique. Parallel tests with cultured DCs were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cells reproducing ultrastructural and cytochemical patterns of DCs were detected in the lamina propria and epithelium of heavily infected and inflamed (but not of normal) mucosa, where DC luminal endings directly contact H. pylori and take up their virulence products. Cytotoxic changes (mitochondrial swelling, cytoplasmic vacuolation, autophagy) were observed in intraepithelial DCs and reproduced in cultured DCs incubated with H. pylori broth culture filtrates to obtain intracellular accumulation of VacA and urease. Granulocytes were also seen to contact and heavily phagocytose luminal H. pylori, while macrophages remained confined to basal epithelium, though taking up bacteria and bacterial products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human DCs can enter H. pylori-infected gastric epithelium, in association with other innate immunity cells, to take up bacteria and their virulence products. This process is likely to be important for bacterial sensing and pertinent immune response; however, it may also generate DC cytotoxic changes potentially hampering their function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Necchi
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Solcia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged