Comparison of Tcell Subsets and Their Cytokines Levels between Children and Adults with Helicobacter Pylori -infection Patients

Background and Aims: Helicobacter. Pylori (H.p), is a high risk factor for gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. It is able to escape the host’s immune response and induce persistent inflammation. T cell immunity plays a key role after inflammation, and even affects the prognosis of the disease. Comparison of Tcell sub sets and its association between adults and children patients suffering from H. pylori infection. Materials and Methods: 109 samples (58 Adults, 512 Children) of patients with dyspepsia syndrome were collected. The percentages of Th17, Th22, and Th9 were measured by Flow cytometry. The levels of IL-17A, IL- 17F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-9 and TGF.β… cytokines were measured by ELISA. Results: Patients were divided into two groups of adults infected (44.8% male, 55.2% female), and children infected (39.2% male, 60.8% female) with the age range of 19-85 years in adults and 2-18 years in children. The percentages of Th17, Th22, Th17/22 and Th9 in the adults infected were significantly more than theirchildrenpatients (p≤0.01). The serum levels of IL-17A, IL-17F and TGF-β in children groups were significantly higher, compared to the levels in the adult patients (p≤0.01). In contrast, there were significantly lower IL-21, and IL-22 levels in the children patients, compared to the adult groups (p≤0.001). Change in levels of IL-9 in children was low. Conclusion: We can conclude that Th17, Th22, Th17/22, Th9 and IL-21, IL-22 cytokines can play a critical role in defense of adults infected with H. pylori. Meanwhile IL-17A, IL-17F cytokines were important in children.