GASTRIC CORPUS IL-8 CONCENTRATION AND NEUTROPHIL INFILTRATION IN DUODENAL-ULCER PATIENTS

Background: The purpose of the present study was to examine the associ ation between interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the gastric body due to Helicoba cter pylori infection and histological gastritis, as well as elucidati ng the effect of acid secretion inhibitors on H. pylori associated bod y gastritis in duodenal ulcer patients. Methods: Twenty H. pylori-nega tive patients, 20 a pylori-positive patients with chronic gastritis wi thout peptic ulceration, and 20 H. pylori-positive duodenal ulcer pati ents (DU) were studied. Four biopsy samples were taken, each from the greater curvature of the antrum and body of the stomach. Biopsies were histologically investigated by ELISA to determine the density of H. p ylori, the degree of neutrophil infiltration and the IL-8 concentratio n in the mucosa. Results: In the gastric mucosa of a pylori-negative s ubjects, no IL-8 and hardly any neutrophil infiltration were observed. In contrast, enhanced IL-8 production and increased neutrophil infilt ration were present in those infected with H. pylori, In H. pylori-pos itive patients, a significant correlation was observed between the IL- 8 concentration and the degree of neutrophil infiltration, but no corr elation was found in the body mucosa of those with DU. Twelve of 20 DU patients demonstrated hardly any neutrophil infiltration, despite the increased mucosal IL-8 content in the body. The administration of ome prazole in DU patients markedly increased mucosal neutrophil infiltrat ion even though it did not cause any significant change in the a pylor i density and IL-8 concentration in the body. Although the effect of o meprazole was transient, a significant increase in neutrophil infiltra tion continued in comparison with the status before omeprazole adminis tration in those subsequently undergoing maintenance treatment with H- 2-blockers. Conclusion: In a pylori-positive chronic gastritis, IL-8 c oncentration is enhanced in the mucosa of the body, and is associated with increased neutrophil infiltration. However, in DU patients, despi te increases in body IL-8 concentration, neutrophil infiltration is re duced and the gastritis may be localized in the antrum.