Helicobacter pyloriL-form and patients with chronic gastritis

AIM: To study the relationship between infection with Helicobacterpylori L-forms and chronic gastritis and its association with possible changes of cellular immune function.METHODS: Gastric mucosal biopsies were taken from 428 patients with chronic gastritis to detect HpyloriL-form by Gram staining and immunohistochemistry staining. Peripheral venous blood samples of patients were taken to detect thepercentage of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ by the biotin-streptavidin (BSA) assay and the levels of IL-2, IL-6and IL-8by ELISA.RESULTS: The rate of infection with H pylori L-forms was 48.83% (209/428). The rate was 50.47% (216/428)and 52.80% (226/428), respectively, as detected by immunohistochemistry staining and Gram staining (P>0.05).The rate of H pylori L-forms in males and females was57.8% (136/235) and 37.28% (73/193), respectively,(x^2=17.05, P<0.01). Furthermore, the rate increased with age, with the rate being significantly greater in patients≥40 years old than in those <40 years old (P<0.01). Thepercentage of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, the ratio of CD4+ / CD8+,and the levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 in Hpylori-positive patients were 47.58+4.44%, 25.51+4.74%, 22.77~7.46%, 1.44+0.51%,1.56+0.47 mg/L, 103.62+5.85 ng/L, and 109.79+7.18 ng/L,respectively. Compared with Hpylori-negative patients, thepercentage of CD3+, CD4+ and the ratio of CD4+ / CD8+and the IL-2 level decreased, but the levels of IL-6, IL-8 increased (P<0.001-P<0.01). Moreover, the percentage of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, the ratio of CD4+ / CD8+, and the levels of IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 in patients infected with both H pylori L-forms and vegetative forms were 46.67+5.21%,30.75+4.89%, 22.15+6.45%, 1.32+0.47%, 1.16+0.38 mg/L,116.45+5.44 rig/L, and 118.64+6.24 ng/L, respectively.Compared with patients infected with only vegetative forms,the percentage of CD4^+, the ratio of CD4+ / CD8+and IL- 2 level decreased, but the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 increased(P<0.001 or P<0.01).CONCLUSION: L-form variation often occurs in patients with chronic gastritis and is commonly found in malepatients and associates with ages. The L-form variation may be an important factor causing disorder of cellular immune function in the patients with H pylori-induced chronic gastritis.

AIM:To study the relationship between infection with Helicobacter pylori L-forms and chronic gastritis and its association with possible changes of cellular immune function. METHODS:Gastric mucosal biopsies were taken from 428 patients with chronic gastritis to detect H pylori L-form by Gram staining and immunohistochemistry staining.Peripheral venous blood samples of patients were taken to detect the percentage of CD3+,CD4+ and CD8+ by the biotin- streptavidin (BSA) assay and the levels of IL-2,IL-6and IL-8 by ELISA. RESULTS:The rate of infection with H pylori L-forms was 48.83% (209/428).The rate was 50.47% (216/428) and 52.80% (226/428),respectively,as detected by immunohistochemistry staining and Gram staining (P>0.05). The rate of H pylori L-forms in males and females was 57.8% (136/235) and 37.28% (73/193),respectively, (x^2=17.05,P<0.01).Furthermore,the rate increased with age,with the rate being significantly greater in patients ≥40 years old than in those <40 years old (P<0.01).The percentage of CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,the ratio of CD4+/CD8+, and the levels of IL-2,IL-6,IL-8 in H pylori-positive patients were 47.58±4.44%,25.51±4.74%,22.77±7.46%,1.44±0.51%, 1.56±0.47mg/L,103.62±5.85ng/L,and 109.79±7.18ng/L, respectively.Compared with H pylori-negative patients,the percentage of CD3+,CD4+ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ and the IL-2 level decreased,but the levels of IL-6,IL-8 increased (P<0.001-P<0.01).Moreover,the percentage of CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,the ratio of CD4+/CD8+,and the levels of IL-2,IL-6 and IL-8 in patients infected with both H pylori L-forms and vegetative forms were 46.67±5.21%, 30.75±4.89%,22.15±6.45%,1.32±0.47%,1.16±0.38mg/L, 116.45±5.44ng/L,and 118.64±6.24ng/L,respectively. Compared with patients infected with only vegetative forms, the percentage of CD_4^+,the ratio of CD4+/CD8+and IL-2 level decreased,but the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 increased (P<0.001 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION:L-form variation often occurs in patients with chronic gastritis and is commonly found in male patients and associates with ages.The L-form variation may be an important factor causing disorder of cellular immune function in the patients with H pylori-induced chronic gastritis.