TY - JOUR T1 - Helicobacter pylori induced interleukin-8 expression in gastric epithelial cells is associated with CagA positive phenotype. JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology JO - J Clin Pathol SP - 41 LP - 45 DO - 10.1136/jcp.48.1.41 VL - 48 IS - 1 AU - J E Crabtree AU - A Covacci AU - S M Farmery AU - Z Xiang AU - D S Tompkins AU - S Perry AU - I J Lindley AU - R Rappuoli Y1 - 1995/01/01 UR - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/48/1/41.abstract N2 - AIMS--To use a range of natural phenotypically variant strains of Helicobacter pylori with disparate CagA and VacA (vacuolating cytotoxin) expression to determine which bacterial factors are more closely associated with epithelial interleukin-8 (IL-8) induction. METHODS--Gastric epithelial cells (AGS and KATO-3) were co-cultured with five H pylori strains which were variously shown to express the cagA gene/CagA protein, VacA and/or to exhibit biological cytotoxicity. Secreted IL-8 was assayed by enzyme leaked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IL-8 messenger RNA (mRNA) was assayed using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction based technique (RT-PCR). RESULTS--Strains expressing CagA, including a variant strain (D931) which is non-cytotoxic and does not express the VacA protein, were found to upregulate epithelial IL-8 secretion and gene expression. In contrast, strains with no CagA expression, even in the presence of VacA and/or biological cytotoxicity, (G104, BA142), failed to induce IL-8 protein or mRNA above control values. CONCLUSIONS--These results strongly support a role for H pylori CagA or coexpressed factors other than the cytotoxin in upregulation of gastric epithelial IL-8. Increased epithelial IL-8 secretion and concomitant neutrophil chemotaxis and activation in addition to direct cytotoxicity may be an important factor in tissue damage and ulceration. ER -