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Comparison of clinical outcomes and FOXP3, IL‐17A responses in Helicobacter pylori infection in children versus adults
Author(s) -
Yörgüç Eda,
Gülerman Hacer Fulya,
Kalkan İsmail Hakkı,
Güven Burcu,
Balcı Mahi,
Yörgüç Mustafa Çağlar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
helicobacter
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1523-5378
pISSN - 1083-4389
DOI - 10.1111/hel.12795
Subject(s) - helicobacter pylori , foxp3 , medicine , pathological , gastroenterology , helicobacter pylori infection , immune system , interleukin 17 , young adult , immunology
Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical symptoms and pathological consequences of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection between children and adults and determine the levels of expression of FOX3P and IL‐17A to examine the Th17/Treg balance. Methods Forty pediatric and 40 adult patients who were followed up at the Pediatric Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Gastroenterology Departments were enrolled in the study. In our case‐control study, gastric tissue specimens were evaluated using the updated Sydney system, and the number of cells expressing FOXP3/IL‐17A (T reg and Th17 cell markers) was analyzed immunohistochemically. In addition, each case was evaluated using a clinical follow‐up questionnaire. Results Clinical signs and symptoms of children and adults were similar. IL‐17A and FOXP3 levels were significantly higher in children and adults with H. pylori (+) than in those without H. pylori (−) ( p < .001). In patients with H. pylori (+), the mean FOXP3 level was significantly higher, whereas the mean IL‐17A level was significantly lower in children than in adults ( p < 0001 for both groups). In children with H. pylori (+), bacterial density was negatively correlated with IL‐17A level and positively correlated with FOXP3 level. In adults with H. pylori (+), there was a statistically significant, highly positive correlation between bacterial density and levels of IL‐17A and FOXP3. Conclusions T reg cells are suggested to more predominant in children than in adults, IL‐17A levels decrease as H. pylori bacterial density increases. In conclusion, immune responses incline toward T reg , which increases the susceptibility to persistent infections.