title: The importance of TH22 and TC22 cells in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An association exists between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), peptic ulcers, gastritis, and sometimes gastric carcinomas. Th22 cells have protective and inflammatory roles in defense against microbes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the frequencies of Th22, Tc22, Th22/17, and Tc22/17 cells in addition to the changes in levels of cytokines IL-22, IL-6, IL-23, TNF-α, IL-1β, and TGF-β in sera from patients with H. pylori-associated gastritis, and peptic ulcer, and in uninfected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 76 patients with H. pylori-associated disorders formed the studied group. Frequencies of T-cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry. Levels of cytokines IL-22, IL-6, IL-23, TNF-α, IL-1β, and TGF-β in the sera and supernatants of patients were measured by ELISA and flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study participants included 32 males and 44 females with a mean age of 38.5±15.3 years. We divided the infected group into peptic ulcer and gastritis (mild, moderate, active chronic, and chronic). The frequencies of Th22, Tc22, and Tc22/17 increased significantly in the peptic ulcer, moderate, active chronic, and chronic gastritis groups compared to the uninfected group. Th22/17 only increased significantly in the chronic gastritis group. We observed significant increases in IL-22 in the moderate and active chronic gastritis, IL-23 in the active chronic and chronic gastritis, and TNF-α in the peptic ulcer and moderate gastritis groups. Following in vitro antigenic stimulation, we observed significantly higher levels of IL-1β, IL-23, and IL-6 in the active chronic gastritis group, as well as IL-6 and IL-1β in the chronic gastritis group compared to the uninfected group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased Th22, Tc22, and Tc22/17 cells and IL-22 levels appear to be influential in progression and severity of H. pylori infection. Th22/17 can be an interesting therapeutic target for chronic H. pylori infections where eradication is more difficult.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.|Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyedeh Azra
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shamsdin
authors.affiliation: Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolvahab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alborzi
authors.affiliation: Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Manoochehr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasouli
authors.affiliation: Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaderi
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.|Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamran B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lankrani
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mohsen
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dehghani
authors.affiliation: Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholam Reza
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Pouladfar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005756:Gastritis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Helicobacter pylori infection; Tc22 Cells; Th22 Cells; cytokines; gastritis; inflammation