Circulating cytokines and gastrin levels in asymptomatic subjects infected by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

The pathophysiology of hypergastrinemia in H. pylori infection has been largely investigated and different reports clearly show that the infected antrum has a marked inflammatory response with a suggestive local production of cytokines. Notwithstanding, a few data are available on the circulating levels of cytokines and gastrin in the asymptomatic people carrying H. pylori infection. Thus, aim of the study was to evaluate circulating proinflammatory cytokines [Interleukin (IL)-8, Interleukin (IL)-10, Interferon (IFN)-γ, and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α] and gastrin levels in H. pylori positive asymptomatic subjects vs. H. pylori negative ones. To this end, thirty healthy volunteers with no digestive symptoms or systemic disease were enrolled and H. pylori infection was identified by a ¹³C-urea breath test. Plasma levels of gastrin were determined using the RIA kit whereas IL-8, TNF-α, IL-10, and IFN-γ levels in serum were measured with a solid-phase ELISA. Fifteen infected people showed significantly higher gastrin and TNF-α levels than uninfected subjects. On the contrary, IL-8 levels were significantly higher in the uninfected subjects than in H. pylori positive ones (P <0.0422). IFN-γ and IL-10 circulating levels were not affected by H. pylori presence, being not significantly different in the two groups.