Inflammation and host response

Helicobacter pylori infection almost invariably results in chronic antral gastritis, but only a minority of infected patients develop clinically significant disease at some point in their life. In the past year, evidence has accumulated indicating that the type of host gastric immune response against H. pylori at least partly influences the clinical outcome and that peptic ulcer may be regarded as an immunopathological consequence of a chronic T helper type 1-polarized response to H. pylori In contrast, a mixed T helper O-type response to H. pylori, resulting in the production of both T helper types 1 and 2 cytokines in the gastric environment, may represent an individual host factor that contributes to reduce both the degree of gastric inflammation and the chance of ulcer complications. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 14 (suppl 1):S15-S19 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.