Interferon gamma and interleukin 4 secreting cells in the gastric antrum in Helicobacter pylori positive and negative gastritis.

Little is known of the function of the T cells in the inflammatory infiltrate in Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis. This study thus measured T cell in vivo activation by enumerating the frequency of interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and interleukin 4 (IL 4) secreting cells isolated from the gastric antral mucosa in patients with or without gastritis and in H pylori positive and negative gastritis. Fifty four samples were examined for cytokine secretion. Four antral biopsy specimens from each patient (n = 51) were taken during diagnostic endoscopy. One was used to estimate histological gastritis and the presence of H pylori, and three of the samples were used to isolate T cells by enzymatic digestion. IFN gamma and IL 4 secreting cells were enumerated by ELISPOT. Thirty four samples had gastritis and 79% of those were H pylori positive. None of the samples from non-inflamed mucosa had H pylori. The numbers of IFN gamma secreting cells per 10(5) T cells were higher in gastritis than in normal mucosa (145 v 20 IFN gamma spots, p < 0.01), and higher in H pylori negative than H pylori positive gastritis (371 v 110 IFN gamma spots, p < 0.05). The frequencies of IL 4 secreting cells did not differ between gastritis and non-inflamed mucosa. In conclusion, there is an increase in IFN gamma secreting cells but not in IL 4 secreting cells in H pylori positive and negative gastritis. It is not known if this TH1 type reaction has a pathogenetic or protective role.

[1]  T. Karttunen,et al.  Helicobacter pylori induces lymphocyte activation in peripheral blood cultures , 1990, Clinical and experimental immunology.

[2]  R. Heatley.  Host responses to Helicobacter (Campylobacter) pylori infection , 1992 .

[3]  T. Olsson,et al.  Detection of intracellular expression and secretion of interferon‐γ at the single‐cell level after activation of human T cells with tetanus toxoid in vitro , 1990, European journal of immunology.

[4]  J A Walker-Smith,et al.  Interleukin-2- and interferon-gamma-secreting T cells in normal and diseased human intestinal mucosa. , 1993, Immunology.

[5]  Defining protective responses to pathogens: cytokine profiles in leprosy lesions. , 1991, Science.

[6]  P. Wille-Jørgensen,et al.  Persisting pain after cholecystectomy. A prospective investigation. , 1991, Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology.

[7]  T. Karttunen,et al.  Helicobacter pylori in dyspeptic patients: quantitative association with severity of gastritis, intragastric pH, and serum gastrin concentration. , 1991, Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. Supplement.

[8]  J. Crabtree,et al.  Gastric Interleukin‐8 and IgA IL‐8 Autoantibodies in Helicobacter pylori Infection , 1993, Scandinavian journal of immunology.

[9]  R. Coffman,et al.  Two types of murine helper T cell clone. I. Definition according to profiles of lymphokine activities and secreted proteins. , 1986, Journal of immunology.

[10]  H. Huitfeldt,et al.  Relation between T cell number and epithelial HLA class II expression quantified by image analysis in normal and inflamed human gastric mucosa. , 1990, Gut.

[11]  G. Trinchieri,et al.  Immune interferon: a pleiotropic lymphokine with multiple effects. , 1985, Immunology today.

[12]  J. Berzofsky,et al.  Role of T‐Cell Derived Cytokines in the Downregulation of Immune Responses in Parasitic and Retroviral Infection , 1992, Immunological reviews.

[13]  J. Madara,et al.  Interferon-gamma directly affects barrier function of cultured intestinal epithelial monolayers. , 1989, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[14]  D. Mendrick,et al.  Rat intestinal M cells contain acidic endosomal-lysosomal compartments and express class II major histocompatibility complex determinants. , 1993, Gastroenterology.

[15]  L. Engstrand,et al.  Association of Campylobacter pylori with induced expression of class II transplantation antigens on gastric epithelial cells , 1989, Infection and immunity.

[16]  S. Planchon,et al.  IFN-gamma modulation of epithelial barrier function. Time course, reversibility, and site of cytokine binding. , 1993, Journal of immunology.

[17]  C. Czerkinsky,et al.  Intestinal immune responses in humans. Oral cholera vaccination induces strong intestinal antibody responses and interferon-gamma production and evokes local immunological memory. , 1991, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[18]  J. Crabtree,et al.  Mucosal tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 in patients with Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis. , 1991, Gut.

[19]  R. Karttunen.  Blood lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine secretion and appearance of T cells with activation surface markers in cultures with Helicobacter pylori. Comparison of the responses of subjects with and without antibodies to H. pylori , 1991, Clinical and experimental immunology.

[20]  M. Blaser.  Hypotheses on the pathogenesis and natural history of Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation. , 1992, Gastroenterology.