Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric ulcer exhibits enhanced mucosal chemokine activity at the ulcer site

Background and Aim: Although mucosal alpha- and beta-chemokines are conside red to be involved in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-associated ga stritis, little is known how these chemokines are related to the ulcerogene sis in peptic ulcer patients. We examined the levels of interleukin (IL)-8 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) in organ cultures and the numbers of inflammatory cells infiltrating the lamina propria by u sing the mucosal tissues obtained from gastric ulcer (GU) patients with and without H. pylori infection. Methods: Levels of IL-8 and MIP-1 alpha secre ted in organ cultures were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Numbers of myeloperoxidase-positive neutrophils, CD68-positive macrophage s, and mononuclear cells were determined in tissue sections. Results: The m ucosal tissues of both the gastric antrum and the ulcer site obtained from patients with H. pylori-positive GU showed significantly higher levels of I L-8 and MIP-1 alpha and increased numbers of inflammatory cells compared wi th the corresponding mucosal tissues from those with H. pylori-negative GU or the antral mucosal tissues from H. pylori-negative controls. When the va lues were com pared between the mucosal tissues from the gastric antrum and those from the ulcer site, the latter group of tissues showed significantl y higher levels of IL-8 and MIP-1 alpha and increased numbers of neutrophil s and macrophages than the former group regardless of its healing process i n patients with H, pylori-positive GU. Conclusion: Mucosal alpha- and beta- chemokines may be important to the ulcerogenesis in H,pylori-associated GU disease. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.