Helicobacter pylori infection and host cell responses

It is well known that Helicobacter pylori is able to colonize the gastric m ucosa, causing a chronic and persistent infection with complications, such as peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. This review places emphasis on some epi demiological aspects of Helicobacter pylori infection and its mode of trans mission. At the same time, invasive and non-invasive methods of diagnosis o f Helicobacter pylori infection are illustrated. More space is devoted to the host response following invasion of the stomac h. In this respect, the role played by-different growth factors and polyami nes in the course of Helicobacter pylori disease is discussed also in relat ion to the result of eradicating treatment. On the other hand, an accurate description of the host immune responses against Helicobacter pylori organi sm and/or their components (e.g. lipopolysaccharides) is reported. Finally, since Helicobacter pylori has been classified as a class I carcino gen, current researches are focussed on the Helicobacter pylori-induced car cinogenesis.