ADHESION MOLECULE EXPRESSION ON GASTRIC INTRAEPITHELIAL LYMPHOCYTES OF PATIENTS WITH HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

Objective: To examine the expression of adhesion molecules on gastric intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs) from patients infected with Helico bacter pylori. Design: The expression of adhesion molecules and T-cell activation markers by gastric IELs from patients with gastritis or du odenal ulceration was examined using two-colour flow cytometry. Ten of the patients were H. pylori positive and eight were H. pylori negativ e. Results: Expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LF A-1) on IELs was significantly lower (P<0.05) in patients with H. pylo ri infection than in patients negative for H. pylori. There were no si gnificant differences in the expression on IELs of intracellular adhes ion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), h uman mucosal lymphocyte (antigen)-1 (HML-1), very late antigen-4 (VLA- 4) or CD43 between H. pyiori-positive and H. pylori-negative individua ls. In addition, the transferrin receptor, a maker associated with pro liferation and activation, was found on a small population of IELs fro m H. pylori-positive individuals. Conclusion: A reduction n the expres sion of LFA-1 has previously been reported on activation of IELs. The finding of reduced LFA-1 expression and increased transferrin receptor expression on IELs from H. pylori-positive individuals suggests that activation of these cells is associated with H. pylori infection.