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Helicobacter pylori Modulation of Gastric and Duodenal Mucosal T Cell Cytokine Secretions in Children Compared with Adults
Author(s) -
Bontems Patrick,
Robert Fabienne,
Van Gossum André,
Cadranel Samy,
Mascart Françoise
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
helicobacter
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1523-5378
pISSN - 1083-4389
DOI - 10.1046/j.1523-5378.2003.00147.x
Subject(s) - helicobacter pylori , medicine , cytokine , gastroenterology , cd3 , flow cytometry , stomach , duodenum , il 2 receptor , immunology , elispot , t cell , immune system , cd8
Background. In contrast to adults, ulcers are un‐common in Helicobacter pylori ‐infected children. Since immunological determinants influence the outcome of H. pylori infection, we have investigated mucosal T cell responses in H. pylori ‐infected children and compared them with those of adults and negative controls. Material and Methods. Mucosal biopsies were obtained from 43 patients undergoing an upper GI endoscopy for dyspeptic symptoms. The concentrations of released cytokines and the density of CD3 + , CD25 + and CD69 + cells were evaluated by flow cytometry, and the numbers of cytokine‐secreting cells were measured by ELISPOT. Results. The numbers of isolated antral CD3 + lymphocytes were only significantly raised in infected adults compared with noninfected controls ( p < 0.05), whereas the proportion of CD3 + cells expressing activation markers (CD25 or CD69) remained low. In the stomach, IFN‐γ concentrations increased in infected children and infected adults compared with controls ( p < 0.05), but IFN‐γ concentrations were tenfold lower in children than in adults ( p < 0.01). IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10 and TNF‐α concentrations were similar in infected and in uninfected children and adults. In contrast, in the duodenum, IFN‐γ, as well as IL‐4 and IL‐10 concentrations were only increased in infected children compared with controls ( p < 0.05). The concentrations of these cytokines were similar in both groups of adults who, however, like children, displayed a higher number of duodenal IL‐4‐secreting cells compared to controls ( p < 0.05). Conclusion. These results suggest that IFN‐γ secretion in the stomach of H. pylori ‐infected patients is lower in children than in adults. This could protect children from development of severe gastro‐duodenal diseases such as ulcer disease. In addition, infected patients are characterised by a dysregulation of the mucosal cytokine secretion at distance from the infection site.