Chemokines in the gastric mucosa in Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Background—Although chemokines have been suggested to play an important role in Helicobacter pyloriassociated gastritis, few studies have investigated the role of chemokines other than interleukin 8 (IL-8) in gastric mucosa.Aims—To investigate the expression and production patterns of various chemokines using gastric biopsy specimens.Methods—In 192 patients, expression patterns of C-X-C chemokines (IL-8 and growth regulated α (GROα)) and C-C chemokines (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF), macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP-1α), and MIP-1β) were examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).cagA gene was identified using PCR.Results—H pylori infection was associated with increased rates of expression of mRNA for IL-8, GROα, RANTES, and MIP-1α and with increased levels of mucosal IL-8 and GROα. IL-8 and GROα levels correlated with the density of H pylori in both the antrum and corpus. The levels of these chemokines correlated with cellular infiltration in the antrum but not the corpus. cagA gene positive H pyloriinfection was associated with increased rates of expression of mRNA for IL-8 and GROα and with increased levels of these chemokines.Conclusion—H pylori infection is associated with increased expression rates and production of C-X-C chemokines (IL-8 and GROα), but not with increased production of C-C chemokines. Although H pylori infection is associated with increased C-X-C chemokines in the antrum and corpus, there is a difference in the inflammatory response between these two areas of the stomach.