Relationship between Helicobacter pylori virulence factors and regulatory cytokines as predictors of clinical outcome

Microbes Infect. 2007 Apr;9(4):428-34. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2006.12.012. Epub 2007 Jan 12.

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection is highly prevalent in Chile (73%). Usually a minority of infected patients develops complications such as ulcers and gastric cancer that have been associated with the presence of virulence factors (cagA, vacA) and host T helper response (Th1/Th2). Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between strain virulence and host immune response, using a multiple regression approach for the development of a model based on data collected from H. pylori infected patients in Chile. We analyzed levels of selected cytokines determined by ELISA (interleukin (IL)-12, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-4) and the presence of cagA and vacA alleles polymorphisms determined by PCR in antral biopsies of 41 patients referred to endoscopy. By multiple regression analysis we established a correlation between bacterial and host factors using clinical outcome (gastritis and duodenal ulcer) as dependent variables. The selected model was described by: clinical outcome=0.867491 (cagA)+0.0131847 (IL-12/IL-10)+0.0103503 (IFN-gamma/IL-4) and it was able to explain over 90% of clinical outcomes observations (R(2)=96.4). This model considers that clinical outcomes are better explained by the interaction of host immune factors and strain virulence as a complex and interdependent mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Duodenal Ulcer / immunology
  • Duodenal Ulcer / virology
  • Female
  • Gastritis / immunology
  • Gastritis / virology
  • Helicobacter Infections / immunology*
  • Helicobacter Infections / virology*
  • Helicobacter pylori / genetics
  • Helicobacter pylori / immunology*
  • Helicobacter pylori / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Virulence Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori
  • Virulence Factors
  • cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori