ANALYSIS OF TH1 AND TH2 CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN LOW-GRADE B-CELL GASTRIC MALT-TYPE LYMPHOMAS STIMULATED IN-VITRO WITH HELICOBACTER-PYLORI

Previous studies have suggested that the dependence of low grade B cel l gastric lymphoma on infection of the gastric mucosa with Helicobacte r pylori results from help provided by hi pylori specific tumour infil trating T cells. ELISPOT analysis was used to characterise functional subpopulations of tumour infiltrating T cells. The production of the T ill cytokine interferon gamma and TH2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4, IL -5, and IL-10 were measured in tumour cell suspensions from two cases of low grade B cell gastric lymphoma, one case of thyroid gland lympho ma, and one case of salivary gland lymphoma. Cells were assayed on day 0 and following 24 hours incubation either in culture medium or with a range of strains of H pylori. There was a dominant TH1-type (pro-inf lammatory) response consistent with the Till response observed in H py lori gastritis.