Association Between IL-17, IL-8 and IL-18 Expression in Peripheral Blood and Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Mongolian Gerbils.

BACKGROUND: Persistent Helicobacter pylori infection confers an increased risk for serious illnesses such as peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Various cytokines are involved in the regulation of inflammatory immune response in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa.

OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to obtain evidence regarding the association between IL-17, IL-8 and IL-18 expression in peripheral blood and H. pylori infection in Mongolian gerbils.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mongolian gerbils were inoculated with H. pylori by a metal stomach catheter. After sacrifice, their gastric mucosae were examined in macroscopic, histological and electron microscopy levels. In addition, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay was performed on the IL-17, IL-8 and IL-18 cytokines in the blood samples.

RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-17, IL-8 and IL-18 were remarkably up-regulated compared to those of the control group. There was an obvious correlation between the increase of IL-17 and the serious extent of gastritis in the current study. However, the serum levels of IL-8 and IL-18 without getting increasingly more for repetitive intragastric administration. There were plenty of neutrophils infiltrating in the infected group mucosal. Intestinal metaplasia and gastric ulcers were also founded in H. pylori infected animals after enhanced inoculation. The edema, degeneration and necrosis changes could be found in organelles by transmission electron microscopy. More serious pathological changes were detected in the enhanced inoculation groups compared to the cycle group.

CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of IL-17, but not IL-8 and IL-18 may serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and predicting the prognosis of gastritis caused by H. pylori.