EXPRESSION OF CYTOKINE MESSENGER-RNA IN GASTRIC-MUCOSA WITH HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

Background: We have studied the cytokine production patterns in gastri c mucosal biopsy specimens with and without the Helicobacter pylori in fection, using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-P CR) method capable of detecting low levels of specific mRNA. Methods: Total RNA was prepared from biopsy specimens with the acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method. cDNA was synthesized by M-MLV R Tase and amplified using the oligonucleotide primers specific for inte rleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), IFN-beta, and IFN-gamma by PCR methods. Results: Althoug h IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma mRNA were detected in most specimens, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, TNF-gamma, and IFN-beta mRNA were not detected at all. The expressions of IL-7 and IL-8 mRNA were significantly high er in H. pylori positive gastritis than in H. pylori-negative normal c ontrols. There was a significant correlation between the expression of IL-8 mRNA and the severity of gastritis both in the antrum and in the corpus. On the other hand, there was a significant correlation betwee n the expression of IL-7 mRNA and the severity of gastritis only in th e corpus. Conclusions: These findings suggest that some cytokines, esp ecially IL-7 and IL-8, play some roles in H. pylori-associated gastrit is.