HELICOBACTER-ASSOCIATED GASTRITIS IN SCID MICE

Immunodeficient (SCID) and immunocompetent mice were infected with Hel icobacter felis to address the role of autoimmunity in Helicobacter-as sociated gastritis. The extents of inflammation were equivalent in the two groups. The numbers of H. felis organisms were marginally increas ed in the SCID mice but did not achieve statistical significance. Thes e results indicate that autoimmunity is not necessary to induce diseas e and that the presence of an adaptive immune system does not signific antly affect H. felis colonization.