Role of Transcription Factor T-bet Expression by CD4+Cells in Gastritis Due toHelicobacter pyloriin Mice

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Abstract
Gastritis due toHelicobacter pyloriis induced by a Th1-mediated response that is CD4 cell and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) dependent. T-bet is a transcription factor that directs differentiation of and IFN-γ secretion by CD4+Th1 T cells. The goal of this study was to use two mouse models to elucidate the role of T-bet in gastritis due toH. pylori. C57BL/6J mice, congenic T-bet knockout (KO) mutants, or congenic SCID (severe, combined immunodeficient) mutants were given liveH. pyloriby oral inoculation. SCID mice were given CD4+splenocytes from C57BL/6J or T-bet KO mice by intraperitoneal injection. Twelve or 24 weeks after bacterial inoculation, C57BL/6J mice developed moderate gastritis but T-bet KO mice and SCID mice did not. In contrast, SCID recipients of either C57BL/6J T cells or T-bet KO T cells developed gastritis 4 or 8 weeks after adoptive transfer. In recipients of C57BL/6J CD4+cells but not recipients of T-bet KO cells, gastritis was associated with a delayed-type hypersensitivity response toH. pyloriantigen and elevated gastric and serum IFN-γ, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. In spite of the absence of IFN-γ expression, indicating failure of Th1 differentiation, CD4+T cells from T-bet KO mice induce gastritis inH. pylori-infected recipient SCID mice. This indicates that Th1-independent mechanisms can cause gastric inflammation and disease due toH. pylori.