Authors: Nakajima S, Krishnan B, Ota H, Segura AM, Hattori T, Graham DY, Genta RM.
Institution: Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Background and Aims: Mast cells are initiators and regulators of inflammation, but their role in the human stomach remains unclear. Therefore, the extent and distribution of mast cell involvement in gastritis with or without Helicobacter pylori infection was investigated.Results: Mast cell density was significantly greater in the mucosa with gastritis, with or without H. pylori infection, than in the mucosa of noninfected normal subjects. In the antrum, density was much greater in H. pylori-infected peptic ulcer subjects than in the other gastritis groups. It also correlated significantly with the intensity of inflammation. Mast cell degranulation was demonstrated by electron microscopy in H. pylori-infected mucosa. Mast cell density in ulcer patients decreased significantly after cure of H. pylori infection.
Conclusions: Mast cells may be important effector cells in the pathogenesis of gastritis, especially in H. pylori-associated peptic ulcer.
Related Studies:
- Mast Cell Involvement in Gastritis With or Without Helicobacter Pylori Infection
- Gastric Mucosal Mast Cells are Increased in Helicobacter pylori-negative Functional Dyspepsia
- Inflammation as a Basis for Functional GI Disorders
- Gastric Inflammatory Markers and Interleukins in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia, With and Without Helicobacter Pylori Infection
