Induction of various cytokines and development of severe mucosal inflammation by <i>cagA</i> gene positive <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> strains

Abstract

These findings suggest that the ability to induce cytokines differs among the strains; cagA+ strains induce various kinds of cytokines and may cause severe inflammation, whereas cagA- strains induce IL-8 and IL-1 beta only weakly and may cause only mild inflammation. However, as most patients infected with the cagA+ strains have gastritis, these strains may not be equivalent to ulcerogenic strains.