Immunology of H. pylori Infection
Ivan Mitov
from: Helicobacter pylori (Edited by: Lyudmila Boyanova). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2011)
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori infection induces almost all mechanisms of innate and acquired immunity. Different bacterial, environmental and host factors may influence the balance between the protective role of the immune mechanisms and their role in gastric mucosal damage, respectively, the possibility of lifelong asymptomatic colonisation of gastric mucosa or clinical manifestation of H. pylori infection. Bacterial virulence factors stimulate Toll-like and Nod-like receptors to induce innate and adaptive cell mediated and humoral immune response. Balance of Th1/Th2 response is of great importance in host protection and in pathogenesis of H. pylori-mediated diseases. The polarised Th1 response is not sufficient to clear the bacteria. Moreover, a predominant activation of Th1 cells plays a key role in tissue damage. Th2 response appears to be protective against gastric inflammation. Cytotoxic activities of T cells are important for the outcome of H. pylori infection. Protection due to anti-H. pylori humoral, local and systemic immune response is minimal. Furthermore, the antibodies may promote colonisation of gastric mucosa read more ...
