The Relationship Between Foxp3 Expression And Helicobacter Pylori Infection

OBJECTIVE To study the expression of Foxp3 in the H pylori-infected gastric mucosal epithelia and its significance in the H pylori -infected diseases.METHODS A total of 30 patients with chronic superficial gastritis(CGS),30 with gastric ulcer(GU),30 with duodenal ulcer(DU)and 40 with gastric carcinoma(GC)were included in this study.Expression of Foxp3 was assessed immunohischemically(SP method).Rapid urease test or histological examination with Warthin-Starry was respectively used to detect H pylori infection.RESULTS The infection rate of H pylori in CSG group,GU group,DU group and GC group was 56.7%,70.0%,66.7%and 72.5%respectively.There was significant difference between H pylori positive group and H pylori negative group respectively in CSG group,GU group,DU group and GC group(CSG group P＜0.05,GU group P＜0.01,DU group P＜0.05,GC group P＜0.05).In the H pylori-infected groups,the intensity of Foxp3-expression in CSG group was significant lower than that in other three groups(vs GU group P＜0.01,vs DU group P＜0.01,vs GC group P＜0.01),and the intensity of Foxp3-expression in GC group was significant higher than that in other three groups(vs CSG group P＜0.01,vs GU group P＜0.01,vs GU group P＜0.01),but there was no significant difference between GU and DU groups.In the H pylorinegative groups,the intensity of Foxp3-expression was no significant difference between those groups.The expression of Foxp3 in carcinoma tissue with H pylori-infected were significant higher than that in adjacent tissue,but there was no significant difference of Foxp3-expression between carcinoma tissue and adjacent tissue with H pylori- negative.CONCLUSIONS The overexpression Foxp3 is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis,gastric ulcer,duodenal ulcer and gastric carcinoma with H pylori-infected,and it suggested that Foxp3~+Treg cells may play a important role in the immune response of H pylori infection.