Increased gastric production of platelet-activating factor, leukotriene-B-4, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in children with Helicobacter pylori infection

The concentrations of platelet-activating factor (PAF), leukotriene-B-4 (LT B4), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in homogenate supernatant s of gastric mucosal biopsy specimens and in gastric juice from Helicobacte r pylori-positive (N = 21) and -negative children (N = 14) were investigate d in order to determine whether these lipid mediators and the cytokine are involved in the inflammatory reaction of H. pylori-associated gastritis. PA F and LTB4 concentrations were measured after high-performance liquid chrom atography (HPLC) purification by specific radioimmunoassay, and TNF-alpha c oncentrations were determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . The concentrations of PAF, LTB4, and TNF-alpha measured in gastric juice and biopsy homogenate supernatants of children with H. pylori-positive gast ritis were found to be statistically elevated and in positive correlation w ith each other. This study suggested that increased local mucosal productio n of potent proinflammatory agents such as PAF, LTB4, and TNF-alpha may be implicated in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated gastritis in childho od.