title: Correlation Between Mucosal IL-6 mRNA Expression Level and Virulence Factors of Helicobacter pylori in Iranian Adult Patients With Chronic Gastritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with gastritis and marked infiltration of the gastric mucosa by several cytokines secreting inflammatory cells that contribute to sustained local inflammation. In this study, we sought to examine IL-6 expression in H. pylori-infected and uninfected gastric mucosa and elucidate the implication in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated gastritis in human.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study aimed to determine mucosal IL-6 mRNA expression level and their correlation with virulence factors and the grade of chronic gastritis among H. pylori infected patients with chronic gastritis from Shahrekord, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mucosal IL-6 mRNA levels was measured by real-time PCR using endoscopic biopsies taken from the gastric antrum of 58 subjects infected with H. pylori and 44 uninfected subjects. Presence of vacA and cagA virulence factors was evaluated using PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IL-6 mRNA expression levels were signiﬁcantly more elevated in H. pylori-positive patients than uninfected individuals and expression of this cytokine was independent from the virulence factors. There was a correlation between IL-6 expression level and the grade of chronic gastritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhanced induction of IL-6 may be involved in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated gastritis.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azadegan-Dehkordi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.affiliation: Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirzad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sanei
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashemzadeh-Chaleshtori
authors.affiliation: Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafieian-Kopaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan,IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tabatabaiefar
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hedayatollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirzad
keywords: Gastritis; Helicobacter pylori; IL-6; Virulence Factors