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Increased mucosal inflammatory cytokines in children with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis
N Kütükçüler1, S Aydogdu, D Göksen
1Department of Paediatrics, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection in children with abdominal pain is linked to higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the stomach. These inflammatory cytokines may play a role in childhood H. pylori gastritis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Recurrent abdominal pain is common in children.
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a potential cause of gastritis.
- Inflammatory cytokines are implicated in gastrointestinal diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the concentrations of key inflammatory cytokines in children with H. pylori infection.
- To compare cytokine levels in H. pylori-positive versus H. pylori-negative children with recurrent abdominal pain.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure cytokine levels.
- Samples included gastric mucosal biopsy homogenates and gastric juice.
- The study included 30 children undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Main Results:
- Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were significantly higher in H. pylori-positive children.
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were higher in H. pylori-infected subjects, but not statistically significant.
- Interleukin-1-beta (IL-1-beta) levels showed no significant difference between groups.
Conclusions:
- Elevated TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the gastric mucosa suggest their involvement in H. pylori-associated gastritis pathogenesis in children.
- Local cytokine production may contribute to inflammation in childhood H. pylori infection.
Abstract:
The concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1-beta in tissue homogenates of gastric mucosal biopsy specimens, and in gastric juice samples from Helicobacter pylori-positive and -negative children, were determined. The study population comprised 30 children with recurrent abdominal pain attending upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Of these patients 18 were infected with H. pylori. Cytokine concentrations in gastric biopsy homogenate supernatants and in gastric juice were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TNF-alpha levels in gastric juice and in gastric biopsy homogenate supernatants in patients with H. pylori-positive gastritis were found to be significantly higher than those in children without H. pylori infection. IL-6 levels were also higher in H. pylori-infected subjects, but the difference in IL-6 concentrations measured in gastric juice and biopsy homogenate supernatants did not reach statistical significance. IL-1-beta concentrations in both specimens showed no significant difference between the two groups of children. It was suggested that increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-alpha and IL-6 generated locally within the gastric mucosa might be implicated in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated gastritis in childhood.