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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2007; 13(16): 2333-2338
Published online Apr 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i16.2333
Duodenal intraepithelial T lymphocytes in patients with functional dyspepsia
Gilles Gargala, Stéphane Lecleire, Arnaud François, Serge Jacquot, Pierre Déchelotte, Jean Jacques Ballet, Loic Favennec, Philippe Ducrotté
Gilles Gargala, Loic Favennec, Parasitology Department, Rouen University Hospital & EA 3234-IFRMP 23, University of Rouen, France
Stéphane Lecleire, Pierre Déchelotte, Philippe Ducrotté, Gastroenterology Department, Rouen University Hospital & EA 3234-IFRMP 23, University of Rouen, France
Arnaud François, Pathology Department, Rouen University Hospital, France
Serge Jacquot, Immunology Department, Rouen University Hospital & U.519-IFRMP 23, University of Rouen, France
Jean Jacques Ballet, Immunology Department, Caen University Hospital & UPRES-EA 2128, University of Caen, France
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Gilles Gargala, Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Hôpital Charles-Nicolle, 1 rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen Cedex, France. gilles.gargala@univ-rouen.fr
Telephone: +33-2-32886639 Fax: +33-2-32886875
Received: November 28, 2006
Revised: December 10, 2006
Accepted: December 18, 2007
Published online: April 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To quantify the intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and to document the membrane expression of CD4, CD8, TCRγδ and adhesion and/or activation-associated molecules (CD103, CD28, CD44, CD69, HLA-DR, CD95/Fas) in the duodenal mucosa of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) in order to provide arguments for an immunological process in FD.

METHODS: Twenty-six FD patients according to Rome II criteria (20 were H pylori negative) were studied and compared to 12 healthy adults. IELs were isolated from five duodenal biopsy samples, then quantified by microscopy and flow cytometry while the membrane phenotypes were determined by cytofluorometry.

RESULTS: Duodenal histological examination was normal. In H pylori negative patients, the number of IELs was not different from that in healthy controls. Median percentage expression of CD4, CD8, or TCRγδ and CD103, CD44, CD28, CD69 on CD3+ IELs, among the adhesion/activation associated molecules tested, was not different from that in healthy controls. In contrast, the median percentage expression of CD95/Fas [22 (9-65) vs 45 (19-88), P = 0.03] and HLA-DR expressing CD3+ IELs [4 (0-30) vs 13 (4-42), P = 0.04] was significantly lower in the H pylori negative FD group than in healthy controls, respectively. The number of IELs was significantly greater in H pylori positive FD patients than in healthy controls [median ratiofor 100 enterocytes 27.5 (6.7-62.5) vs 10.8 (3-33.3), P = 0.02] due to a higher number of CD8+ CD3+ IELs.

CONCLUSION: In H pylori negative FD patients, the phenotypic characterization of IELs suggests that we cannot exclude a role of IELs in FD.

Keywords: Functional dyspepsia; Intraepithelial T lymphocytes; Gut; CD95/Fas; HLA-DR