Abstract:
Objective To investigate the role of Th17 and Treg in chronic gastritis, lymphocytic gastritis, and low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.
Methods The expression of FOXP3+Treg and Th17 in 18 chronic gastritis, 17 lymphocytic gastritis, and 18 gastric MALT lymphoma cases were detected by immunohistochemical staining.
Results IL-17 expression increased in the chronic gastritis, lymphocytic gastritis, and gastric MALT lymphoma cases. However, no statistical significance was found in IL-17 expression between lymphocytic gastritis and gastric MALT lymphoma. The expression of FOXP3+Treg cells increased in the chronic gastritis, lymphocytic gastritis, and gastric MALT lymphoma cases (P < 0.05) (corresponding to 30.8 ± 7.2, 22.4 ± 4.0, and 5.1 ± 2.7 per high magnification field, respectively). The density of FOXP3+Treg cells was positively correlated with the expression of IL-17 (r = 0.308, P < 0.05).
Conclusion Th17 and Treg may play certain roles in the development of gastric MALT lymphoma.