Mucosal Chemokine Activity inHelicobacter pylori Infection

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Abstract
We examined secretion, mRNA expression, and histologic localization of interleukin-8(IL-8) and growth-related gene product-α (GROα) in the Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric antral mucosa. Antral biopsies were obtained from an area of endoscopically intact mucosa. Significantly higher levels of IL-8 and GROα were secreted in organ cultures from patients with H. pylori infection, and their elevation was prominent in patients with duodenal ulcer. There was a significant association between these α-chemokine levels and histologic grades of activity, inflammation, and H. pylori density. In fresh antral biopsies, IL-8 and GROα mRNA expression was detected more frequently in H. pylori-infected patients compared with those without infection. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed localization of IL-8 and GROα proteins in gastric epithelial cells and infiltrating CD68+ macrophages. In the chemotaxis assay, a significant positive correlation was found between neutrophil migration induced by the organ culture supernatants and their contents of IL-8 and GROα. After H. pylori eradication, a significant decrease was observed in IL-8 and GROα levels detected in organ cultures. In conclusion, mucosal α-chemokine activity correlates well with histologic severity of H. pylori-associated antral gastritis and can be used to predict the effects of H. pylori eradication therapy.