MUCOSAL CHEMOKINES IN HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

Chemokines are a family of low-molecular-weight proinflammatory cytoki nes that have leukocyte chemotactic and activating properties. Chemoki ne protein and mRNA are increased in the gastric mucosa of Helicobacte r pylori infection and they are considered to regulate migration of le ukocyte populations. The increase of C-X-C chemokines (e.g. IL-8, GRO- alpha) which effect primarily neutrophils is significantly associated with gastric polymorphonuclear cell activity suggesting that these che mokines play a primary role in active gastritis induced by H. pylori i nfection. In vitro enhanced epithelial chemokine responses are induced by cag A positive strains which have been clinically associated with more severe clinical outcome. Infection with cag A-positive H. pylori strains associates in vivo specifically with a C-X-C profile and enhan ced polymorphonuclear infiltration in the gastric mucosa. Whilst infec tion with H. pylori, especially cag positive strains, is associated wi th more severe disease, genetic variability in host chemokine response s may also contribute to disease outcome.