| Abstract: | Cytokines are suspected to play a crucial rolein the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori associatedgastric diseases. Hence, considerable attention has beenpaid to the actions of cytokines on gastric cells. We examined the effects of cytokines onmucus secretion by gastric epithelial cells, without orwith H. pylori components. Mucus secretion by culturedgastric epithelial cells was assessed as secretion of [3H]glucosamine-prelabeledhigh-molecularweight glycoproteins. Interleukin(IL)-1 and IL-6 significantly stimulated mucussecretion, but other cytokines such as IL-7, IL-8,IL-10, interferon (IFN)- and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- had noeffect. H. pylori lysate caused a decrease in both basaland stimulated secretion of mucus. In addition,IFN- significantly potentiated the lysate-induced reduction of basal and stimulated secretion.Cell viability was not affected by any of treatments.These results indicate that IL-1 and IL-6stimulate mucus secretion, while IFN- potentiatesH. pylori-decreased secretion by gastric epithelialcells. |
