Relationship between Th17 cell number and Helicobacter pylori-infected chronic gastritis in children

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between peripheral Th17 cell number and chronic gastritis in Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)-infected children. Methods Children were diagnosed as chronic gastritis by endoscopy.The degree and activity of inflammation were graded by histopathology examinations.The patients with both 13C urea breath test and urease test positive were diagnosed as H. pylori infection.The peripheral Th17 cell number was measured by flow cytometry and expressed as a ratio to total T cell. Results The Th17 cell number in HP group (chronic gastritis with H. pylori infection, n=33), non-HP group (chronic gastritis without H. pylori infection, n=24) and normal controls (n=15) were (1.55±0.30)%, (1.06±0.33)%, and (1.04±0.35)%, respectively.HP group included a statistically higher Th17 cell number than the other groups (all P 0.05). According to the degree of inflammation, the chronic gastritis with H. pylori infection was categorized into non-apparent (n=10), mild (n=8), moderate (n=9) and severe (n=6) subgroups.The Th17 cell number in each subgroup was (1.64±0.21)%(non-apparent), (1.61±0.23)% (mild), (1.25±0.29)% (moderate) and (1.75±0.20)%(severe), respectively.The moderate group had a lowest Th17 cell number among 4 groups (P 0.05). The HP group patients with different inflammatory activity had a Th17 cell number of (1.23±0.25)% in no-napparent (n=15), (1.53±0.15)% in mild (n=6), (1.55±0.32)% in moderate (n=6) and (1.71±0.35)% in severe (n=6) subgroup, respectively.However, there were no significant differences among 4 subgroups (P>0.05). Conclusions In the progress of chronic gastritis with H. pylori infection, Th17 cells may play a role as a double-edged sword by protecting and fighting against H. pylori infection and immunopathologic insults.This would provide more insights into the treatment of H. pylori infection. Key words: Th17 cell; Helicobacter pylori; Chronic gastritis