The role of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in gastric mucosa inflammation associated with Helicobacter heilmannii type 1 infection.

Although Helicobacter heilmannii infection is less common than H. pylori infection in humans, it is considered to be of medical importance because of its association with gastritis, gastric ulcer, carcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the stomach. However, there have been no studies evaluating the role of the Th cell response in H. heilmannii gastric infection. We evaluated the participation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, IFN-gamma and IL-4, in H. heilmannii gastric infection in genetically IFN-gamma- or IL-4-deficient mice. The serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 concentrations were determined by ELISA. The gastric polymorphonuclear infiltrate was higher (P = 0.007) in H. heilmannii-positive than in H. heilmannii-negative wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice, whereas no significant inflammation was demonstrable in the stomach of H. heilmannii-positive IFN-gamma(-/-) C57BL/6 mice. The degree of gastric inflammatory cells, especially in oxyntic mucosa, was also higher (P = 0.007) in infected IL-4(-/-) than in WT BALB/c mice. Serum IFN-gamma levels were significantly higher in IL-4(-/-) than in WT BALB/c mice, independently of H. heilmannii-positive or -negative status. Although no difference in serum IFN-gamma levels was seen between H. heilmannii-positive (11.3 +/- 3.07 pg/mL, mean +/- SD) and -negative (11.07 +/- 3.5 pg/mL) WT BALB/c mice, in the group of IL-4(-/-) animals, the serum concentration of IFN-gamma was significantly higher in the infected ones (38.16 +/- 10.5 pg/mL, P = 0.04). In contrast, serum IL-4 levels were significantly decreased in H. heilmannii-positive (N = 10) WT BALB/c animals compared to the negative (N = 10) animals. In conclusion, H. heilmannii infection induces a predominantly Th1 immune response, with IFN-gamma playing a central role in gastric inflammation.

The role of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in gastric mucosa inflammation associated with Helicobacter heilmannii type 1 infection

Although Helicobacter heilmannii infection is less common than H. pylori infection in humans, it is considered to be of medical importance because of its association with gastritis, gastric ulcer, carcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the stomach. However, there have been no studies evaluating the role of the Th cell response in H. heilmannii gastric infection. We evaluated the participation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, IFN-gamma and IL-4, in H. heilmannii gastric infection in genetically IFN-gamma- or IL-4-deficient mice. The serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 concentrations were determined by ELISA. The gastric polymorphonuclear infiltrate was higher (P = 0.007) in H. heilmannii-positive than in H. heilmannii-negative wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice, whereas no significant inflammation was demonstrable in the stomach of H. heilmannii-positive IFN-gamma-/- C57BL/6 mice. The degree of gastric inflammatory cells, especially in oxyntic mucosa, was also higher (P = 0.007) in infected IL-4-/- than in WT BALB/c mice. Serum IFN-gamma levels were significantly higher in IL-4-/- than in WT BALB/c mice, independently of H. heilmannii-positive or -negative status. Although no difference in serum IFN-gamma levels was seen between H. heilmannii-positive (11.3 ± 3.07 pg/mL, mean ± SD) and -negative (11.07 ± 3.5 pg/mL) WT BALB/c mice, in the group of IL-4-/- animals, the serum concentration of IFN-g was significantly higher in the infected ones (38.16 ± 10.5 pg/mL, P = 0.04). In contrast, serum IL-4 levels were significantly decreased in H. heilmannii-positive (N = 10) WT BALB/c animals compared to the negative (N = 10) animals. In conclusion, H. heilmannii infection induces a predominantly Th1 immune response, with IFN-gamma playing a central role in gastric inflammation.

Helicobácteres gástricos de perros y gatos: mínimo riesgo en salud pública / Gastric helicobacters in dogs and cat: minimal risk in public health

El aislamiento reciente de especies de Helicobacter diferentes al H. pylori causando enfermedad gástrica, intestinal y hepática en animales y humanos, ha despertado un interés particular sobre el rolpatogénico y zoonótico que pueden representar las bacterias espiraladas presentes en los animales, especialmente las que se encuentran en la mucosa gástrica de perros y gatos por su estrecho contacto con los seres humanos. Algunos estudios han comprobado una mayor prevalencia de estos organismos gástricos en personas que habitan en áreas rurales y que mantienen mayor contacto con animales, además se han encontrado casos aislados de una probable transmisión de organismos tipo Helicobacter de mascotas a sus propietarios. Con respecto al H. pylori, se pensó que los gatos pudieran transmitir la bacteria una vez se aisló en ellos, pero estudios posteriores sugieren que posiblemente sea elhombre quien transmita la bacteria a los gatos, además no se han encontrado diferencias en la prevalencia de H. pylori en propietarios de gatos comparado con personas que no tienen contacto con mascotas. La baja prevalencia de bacterias espiraladas tipo Helicobacter diferentes al H. pylori colonizando la mucosa gástrica en seres humanos es muy baja y aún no se conoce con exactitud si el contacto con perros, gatos y otros animales representa un verdadero riesgo de transmisión al hombre.

Imágenes citológicas de Helicobacter heilmannii (Gastrospirillum hominis), bacteria gástrica no reportada en Cuba / Cytological imaging of Helicobacter heilmannii (Gastropirillum hominis), a gastric bacteria never before reported in Cuba

Se observaron 625 citologías gástricas por cepillado tomadas mediante endoscopia a pacientes adultos con gastritis crónica y/o úlcera gástrica, con el objetivo de diagnosticar Helicobacter pylori. En un paciente con úlcera gástrica la prueba de la ureasa fue positiva y la citología resultó negativa de H. pylori. Se observaron otras bacterias espiraladas que solo se habían visto en la literatura, fueron medidas y fotografiadas. Se informó Gastrospirillum hominis. El paciente recibió tratamiento con Q-ulcer, metronidazol, tetraciclina y metoclopramida. A los 2 meses de finalizado se le repitió la endoscopia y había desaparecido la úlcera, se informó entonces gastritis crónica ligeramente agudizada. No existía reflujo biliar. La ureasa fue negativa y las bacterias descritas en la muestra anterior habían desaparecido

Cellular immune responses in Helicobacter heilmannii infection: evaluation of the role of the host and the bacterium.

We evaluated some aspects of the immune response to Helicobacter heilmannii in two mouse strains. Gastritis that was more severe in infected C57BL/6 mice. A proliferative response to H. pylori antigens was observed in splenocytes from H. heilmannii-positive and -negative mice, similar in the positive- and negative-BALB/c mice, but lower in the positive- than in the negative-C57BL/6 animals. A decrease in B cells and an increase in CD4+ cells after stimulation with type I H. pylori antigen and an increase in CD8+ cells after stimulation with type I and II antigens was observed in infected C57BL/6 mice. Conversely, the percentage of CD4+, CD8+, and B cells was similar in positive- and negative-BALB/c mice. These results demonstrated that the immune response is similar in H. heilmannii and H. pylori infection and strengthened the importance of host and bacterial virulence markers in the immune response to gastric Helicobacter infections.

Gastrite crônica associada a infecçäo "Gastrospirillum hominis" / Chronic gastritis associated with infection by \"Gastrospirillum hominis\"

Além da reconhecida gastrite infecciosa causada pelo Helicobacter pylori, outras bactérias podem colonizar a mucosa gástrica e induzir resposta inflamatória. Sao apresentados os dados clínicos, endoscópicos e histopatológicos de um paciente portador de gastrite crônica associada à infecçao por Gastrospirillum hominis.