CHEMOKINE MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN GASTRIC-MUCOSA IS ASSOCIATED WITH HELICOBACTER-PYLORI CAGA POSITIVITY AND SEVERITY OF GASTRITIS

Aim-To investigate the association between the quantity of gastric che mokine mRNA expression, severity of gastritis, and cagA positivity in Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis. Methods-In 83 dyspeptic pati ents, antral and corpus biopsies were taken for semiquantitative rever se transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and histological g rading of gastritis. Gastritis was evaluated by visual analogue scales . Quantities of chemokine (IL-8, GRO alpha, ENA-78, RANTES, MCP-1) RT- PCR products were compared with G3PDH products. Each sample was also e valuated for the presence of cagA and ureA mRNA by RT-PCR. Results-mRN A expression of all five chemokines was significantly greater in H pyl ori positive than in H pylori negative mucosa. In H pylori positive pa tients, in the antrum C-X-C chemokine mRNA expression was significantl y greater in cagA positive patients than in cagA negative patients, bu t there were no significant differences in C-C chemokine mRNA expressi on. In H pylori positive patients, chemokine mRNA expression in the co rpus was less than in the antrum. In contrast to the antrum, only GROa mRNA expression was significantly greater in cagA positive infection. Polymorphonuclear cell infiltration was correlated with C-X-C chemoki ne mRNA expression. Significant correlations were also found between b acterial density and C-X-C chemokine mRNA expression. Conclusions-In H pylori infection, C-X-C chemokines may play a primary role in active gastritis. Infection with cagA positive H pylori induces greater gastr ic chemokine mRNA expression in the antral mucosa, which may be releva nt to the increased mucosal damage associated with cagA positive H pyl ori infection.