IgE-containing cells in gastric mucosa with and without Helicobacter pylori infection

Gastric mucosa responds with inflammation to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. While numerous reports have shown that the immune system produces specific IgG, IgA, and IgM isotype anti H. pylori antibodies, IgE-mediated pathways of H. pylori-associated gastritis are mostly unknown. Our aim was to evaluate whether an increased presence of IgE in the antral gastric mucosa is responsible for the severity of the H. pylori-associated gastritis. The number of IgE-containing cells was estimated in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded antral gastric biopsy specimens using immunohistochemistry in three groups of patients: (i) 20 H. pylori-positive cases with moderate inflammation, (ii) 19 H. pylori-negative cases with moderate inflammation, and (iii) 19 H. pylori-negative cases with normal mucosa. In chronic gastritis, the number of IgE-positive cells increased significantly as compared to normal mucosa. In gastritic patients, H. pylori positivity was accompanied by a significant accumulation of IgE-positive cells, mainly plasma cells. These data suggest that IgE-mediated immune response probably plays an important role in the development of H. pylori-associated gastritis.