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Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2005; 11(16): 2486-2490
Published online Apr 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i16.2486
Correlation between CD4, CD8 cell infiltration in gastric mucosa, Helicobacter pylori infection and symptoms in patients with chronic gastritis
Ai-Ping Lu, Sheng-Sheng Zhang, Qing-Lin Zha, Da-Hong Ju, Hao Wu, Hong-Wei Jia, Cheng Xiao, Shao Li, Hui Jian
Ai-Ping Lu, Da-Hong Ju, Hao Wu, Hong-Wei Jia, Cheng Xiao, Institute of Basic Theory, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China
Qing-Lin Zha, Jiangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute, Nanchang 330066, Jiangxi Province, China
Sheng-Sheng Zhang, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Beijing 100007, China
Shao Li, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100028, China
Ai-Ping Lu, Hui Jian, National Pharmaceutical Engineer Center for Herbal Solid Preparation, Nanchang 330047, Jiangxi Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Science Foundation, China, No. 90209002 and 90209032; Key Grant from National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 000-J-Z-02; Beijing Creative Human Resource Plan
Correspondence to: Dr. Ai-Ping Lu, Institute of Basic Theory, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dongzhimen, Beijing 100700, China. catcm@public.bta.net.cn
Telephone: +86-10-64067611 Fax: +86-10-64013896
Received: May 29, 2004
Revised: May 30, 2004
Accepted: June 29, 2004
Published online: April 28, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the correlation between CD4, CD8 cell infiltration in gastric mucosa, Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection and symptoms or the assemblage of symptoms in cases with chronic gastritis.

METHODS: Biopsy samples at the gastric antrum were obtained from 62 patients with chronic gastritis. CD4 and CD8 cell infiltration was evaluated by immunohistochemical assays on frozen sections of the biopsy samples. Fifteen symptoms referring to digestion-related activity and non-digestion related activity were observed. The correlation between lymphocyte infiltration and each symptom or symptom assemblage was analyzed by logistic regression and K-mean cluster methods.

RESULTS: CD4 cell infiltrations in gastric mucosa were much more in patients with H pylori infection, while CD8 cell infiltrations were similar in patients with or without H pylori infection. Logistic regression analysis showed that the symptoms including heavy feeling in head or body (t = 2.563), and thirst (t = 2.478) were significantly related with CD4 cell infiltration in gastric mucosa (P<0.05), and cool limbs with aversion to cold were related with CD8 cell infiltration (t = 2.872, P<0.05). Further analysis showed that non-digestive related symptom assemblage could increase the predicted percentage of CD4 and CD8 cell infiltration in gastric mucosa, including lower CD4 infiltration by 12.5%, higher CD8 infiltration by 33.3%, and also non-H pylori infection by 23.6%. K-means cluster analysis of all symptoms and CD4 and CD8 cell infiltration in gastric mucosa showed a similar tendency to increase the predicted percentage of CD4, CD8 cell infiltration and H pylori infection.

CONCLUSION: Based on correlation between the gastric mucosa lymphocyte infiltration, H pylori infection and clinical symptoms, symptoms or symptomatic assemblages play an important role in making further classification of chronic gastritis, which might help find a more specific therapy for chronic gastritis.

Keywords: Mucosal immune, Helicobacter pylori infection, Symptoms, Chronic gastritis