Role of gamma interferon in Helicobacter pylori induction of inflammatory mediators during murine infection

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) has been proposed to play an important role in Helicobacter-related gastritis. Using the IFN-gamma gene knockout (IFN-gamma(-/-)) mouse model and a murine gastric epithelial cell line, GSM06, we demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori maximally induced macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA only in wild-type mice. MIP-2 and iNOS mRNA were also induced by H. pylori in GSM06 cells. Induction of cyclooxygenase 2 mRNA through IFN-gamma was demonstrated in GSM06 cells. These data indicate that IFN-gamma mediates the induction of MIP-2 and iNOS mRNA expression by H. pylori in mice.