Lymphocyte proliferative response to Helicobacter pylori antigens in H. pylori-infected patients

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) contributes to the development of gastric and extra-gastric diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) and causes persistent life-long infection despite local and systemic immune response. Aim of present study was to determine specific cellular immune response to Hp antigens in Hp infected patients with and without AT using modified lymphocyte transformation test, before and after eradication therapy.

The results indicate that Hp might cause inhibition of the specific cellular immune response in Hp infected patients which can be abrogated by successful eradication of Hp.

Keywords

• Helicobacter pylori
• LTT-MELISA
• lymphocyte proliferative response
• autoimmune thyroiditis
• immunosuppresion