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Altered cytokine expression in Helicobacter pylori infected patients with bleeding duodenal ulcer
Ljiljana Milic1, Aleksandar Karamarkovic2, Dusan Popadic3
1Surgical Clinic "Nikola Spasić", Zvezdara University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University Belgrade, Dimitrija Tucovića 161, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia. ljilja.milic@gmail.com.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection alters cytokine levels in bleeding peptic ulcer patients. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) may play a protective role in H. pylori eradication.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is frequently linked to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
- H. pylori infection triggers cytokine signaling, influencing ulcer healing, rupture, and carcinogenesis.
- Bleeding is a major complication of peptic ulcers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum concentrations and mRNA expression of key cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF, TGF-β, IL-17A) in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers.
- To compare these levels between H. pylori-infected and non-infected individuals.
Main Methods:
- Serum cytokine concentrations were measured using enzyme immunoassay.
- mRNA expression of cytokines in periulcer biopsies was analyzed via real-time PCR.
- Patients with bleeding peptic ulcers were categorized based on H. pylori infection status.
Main Results:
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF serum concentrations were significantly elevated in H. pylori-infected patients.
- Serum concentrations of TGF-β and IL-17A were significantly lower in H. pylori-infected patients.
- IL-17A mRNA expression in periulcer mucosa was significantly higher in infected patients; other cytokine expressions showed no significant difference.
Conclusions:
- Cytokine profiles differ significantly between H. pylori-infected and non-infected patients with bleeding peptic ulcers.
- Elevated IL-17A expression in mucosal tissue, alongside lower serum concentrations, suggests a potentially protective role in H. pylori infection and eradication.
Objective:
Peptic ulcer disease is a condition in which an important role has infection with H. pylori. The most common complication of peptic ulcer is bleeding. The presence of H. pylori triggers local and systemic cytokine signaling which may affect processes such as healing, gastric or duodenal rupture, and carcinogenesis. In this study, we examined the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF, TGF-β and IL-17A in serum by enzyme immunoassay and their mRNA expressions in periulcer biopsies obtained from patients with bleeding peptic ulcer by means of real-time-PCR.
Results:
We have shown that pro-inflammatory IL-6 and TNF concentrations in serum were significantly higher in patients who were infected with H. pylori, while the concentrations of TGF-β and IL-17A were significantly lower compared to non-infected subjects. IL-17A expression in periulcer mucosa was significantly higher in patients who were infected with H. pylori, while the expression of other cytokines, there was no significant difference compared to non-infected controls. Considering higher serum concentrations in non-infected subjects and higher IL-17A expression in mucosal tissue of infected patients, our data support the studies that found IL-17A has protective role in eradication of H. pylori infection in infected patients.
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