Aim: To explore the relationship between helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the remnant stomach mucosa.
Methods: Fifty-eight patients with gastrectomy were examined by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Biopsy specimens were obtained from stoma and the greater curvature of the upper corpus to detect Hp infection (by H.E. and Giemsa staining) and IL-8 expression (by real-time semi-quantitative RT-PCR).
Results: Hp infection was detected in 65.5% (38/58)of the remnant stomach mucosa. In 34 patients with Billroth I (BI) anastomosis, IL-8 in corpus was significantly higher in Hp-positive patients than that in Hp-negative patients (0.11+/-0.07 vs 0.02+/-0.01, P<0.05). In 24 patients with Billroth II (BII) anastomosis, IL-8 in stoma and corpus in Hp-positive patients was significantly higher than that in Hp-negative patients (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Hp infection induces IL-8 expression in remnant stomach mucosa. In corpus, IL-8 mRNA expression is mainly related with Hp infection, while in stoma, IL-8 mRNA expressions may be related with bile reflux besides Hp infection.