Circulating cytokines and gastrin levels in asymptomatic subjects infectedby Helicobacter pylori (H-pylori)

The pathophysiology of hypergastrinemia in H. pylori infection has been lar gely investigated and different reports clearly show that the infected antr um has a marked inflammatory response with a suggestive local production of cytokines. Notwithstanding, a few data are available on the circulating le vels of cytokines and gastrin in the asymptomatic people carrying H. pylori infection. Thus, aim of the study was to evaluate circulating proinflammat ory cytokines [Interleukin (IL)-8, Interleukin (IL)-10, Interferon (IFN)-ga mma, and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha] and gastrin levels in H. pylori positive asymptomatic subjects vs. H. pylori negative ones. To this end, t hirty healthy volunteers with no digestive symptoms or systemic disease wer e enrolled and H. pylori infection was identified by a C-13-urea breath tes t. Plasma levels of gastrin were determined using the RIA kit whereas IL-8, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IFN-gamma levels in serum were measured with a solid -phase ELISA. Fifteen infected people showed significantly higher gastrin a nd TNF-a levels than uninfected subjects. On the contrary, IL-X levels were significantly higher in the uninfected subjects than in H. pylori positive ones (P < 0.0422). IFN-gamma and IL-10 circulating levels were not affecte d by H. pylori presence, being not significantly different in the two group s.