title: Enhanced expression of CXCL13 in human Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemokine CXC ligand 13 (CXCL13) and CXC receptor type 5 (CXCR5) are constitutively expressed in tertiary lymphoid follicles where the CXCL13/CXCR5 system regulates B lymphocytes homing. In this study, we sought to examine CXCL13 expression in the H. pylori-infected and -uninfected gastric mucosa and to elucidate the implication in the pathogenesis of HAG in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using endoscopic biopsies taken from the gastric antrum of 29 subjects infected with Helicobacter pylori and 22 uninfected subjects, mucosal CXCL13 mRNA and protein levels were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CXCL13 expression levels were significantly more elevated in H. pylori-positive patients than uninfected ones. The CXCL13 expression levels correlated with the degree of chronic gastritis and bacterial colonization. Immunohistochemistry and in vitro infection assay showed that CXCL13 was not produced by the gastric epithelium, but the α-smooth muscle antigen expressing mesenchymal cells were the possible source of CXCL13 within H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa. CXCR5 immunostaining was seen in the CD20-positive lymphoid aggregates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The enhanced induction of CXCL13 may be involved in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated gastritis.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki, 852-8102, Japan.
authors.forename: Yujiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isomoto
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Junzo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hisatsune
authors.forename: Tatsuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Fuminao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Takeshima
authors.forename: Tomayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5 / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: C110663:CXCL13 protein, human; C095085:CXCR5 protein, human; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5