Role of local cytokines in increased gastric expression of the secretory component in Helicobacter pylori infection

Using immunohistochemical staining, we examined the presence of secretory c omponent (SC) on epithelial cells in gastric and duodenal biopsy specimens collected from Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals and healthy control s. Gastric epithelial cells from healthy volunteers expressed low, but dete ctable, levels of SC. In contrast, significantly higher level of expression of SC (P < 0.001) was observed on epithelial cells in the antra of H. pylo ri-infected individuals. The antral SC expression correlated with staining for gamma interferon of intraepithelial and lamina propria lymphocytes (r(s ) = 0.76 and 0.69, respectively, P < 0.001) and correlated weakly with prod uction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (r(s) = 0.43, P < 0.05), but it did n ot correlate at all with interleukin-4 production.