Xg. Fan et al., ENHANCED T-HELPER 2 LYMPHOCYTE-RESPONSES - IMMUNE MECHANISM OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION, Irish journal of medical science, 165(1), 1996, pp. 37-39
Several lines of evidence implicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in
fection in gastroduodenal inflammation. However, the exact pathogenesi
s of H. pylori infection is not fully understood, T-helper (TH) lympho
cytes may be subdivided into TH1 and TH2 cells based on the distinct p
atterns of cytokine production, TH1 reaction is associated with immuni
ty or resistance to infection, while TH2 reaction is associated with t
he progression or persistence of infection, The production of interfer
on-gamma (INF-gamma) and interleukin 2 (IL-2), which are type 1 cytoki
nes, is decreased in H. pylori infection, Enhanced production of type
2 cytokines (IL-4) and IL-6) is observed in individuals with H. pylori
infection, Suppressed proliferative responses of peripheral blood and
gastric lymphocytes have also been demonstrated in patients with H. p
ylori colonisation, suggesting that specific T-cell responses may be d
own-regulated by an enhanced TH2 reaction, Suppressed TH1 and enhanced
TH2 responses in H. pylori infection may be involved in the immunopat
hogenesis of chronic H. pylori infection.