Chemokines in the gastric mucosa in Helicobacter pylori infection

Background-Although chemokines have been suggested to play an important role in Helicobacter pylori associated 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 alpha (GRO alpha)) and C-C chemokines (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), and MIP-1 beta) 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, GRO alpha, RANTES, and MIP-1 alpha and with increased levels of mucosal IL-8 and GRO alpha. IL-8 and GRO alpha 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 pylori infection was associated with increased rates of expression of mRNA for IL-8 and GRO alpha 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 GRO alpha), 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.