Specific T cell responses to Helicobacter pylori predict successful eradication therapy

The aim of our prospective study was to test a specific T cell response to Helicobacter pylori before therapy and compare it to the success of H. pylori eradication 12 months later.

A total of 14 dyspeptic patients and 10 patients with previous H. pylori eradication failure were recruited into the study; before therapy their gastric samples for H. pylori cultivation and blood samples for dendritic cell cultivation were obtained. H. pylori antigens were produced to prime dendritic cells for stimulation of T lymphocyte response.

The level of cytokine response by T cells was measured and results were compared with the success of H. pylori eradication one year later. There was a significantly increased response in expression of IFN-gamma and IL-4 molecules by DCs stimulated T cells in subjects that successfully eradicated H. pylori compared with those who failed to eradicate the infection. Our results support the hypothesis that successful H. pylori eradication requires established anti-H. pylori immune response besides antibiotic treatment.

Effective IFN-gamma cytokine response to H. pylori antigens seems to be of particular importance. Immunisation could be therefore beneficial for H. pylori eradication, while immunodeficiency could cause the failure in H. pylori eradication.