BACKGROUND Chronic gastritis is a common histologic finding in children with functional dyspepsia (FD). While Th17 cells have been implicated in other forms of gastritis, they have not been evaluated in chronic gastritis. AIMS The aim of the current study was to assess Th17 cells in children with FD with and without chronic gastritis. METHODS Densities were determined for Th17 cells, eosinophils, and mast cells, respectively, in both the gastric antrum and the duodenum. Densities were compared between five groups: FD with chronic gastritis (N = 20), FD without chronic gastritis (N = 20), Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis (N = 10), Crohn's gastritis (N = 10), and normal controls (N = 10). Th17 densities were also compared between patients with and without early satiety. RESULTS FD with chronic gastritis was associated with higher Th17 cell density as compared to normal controls and comparable to both H. pylori-associated gastritis and Crohn's gastritis. Eosinophil and mast cell densities were higher in FD patients with chronic gastritis as compared to either FD without gastritis or normal controls. Th17 density was higher in patients reporting early satiety but not in those with epigastric pain. CONCLUSIONS FD with chronic gastritis is associated with higher Th17 cell, eosinophil, and mast cell density as compared to FD without chronic gastritis or normal controls. Chronic gastritis demonstrated Th17 cell density similar to that seen in other conditions where Th17 cells are believed to play a pathogenic role. Th17 cells may represent another therapeutic target in these patients.

中文翻译：

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在与慢性胃炎相关的小儿功能性消化不良中，粘膜Th17细胞增加。

背景技术慢性胃炎是功能性消化不良（FD）儿童的常见组织学发现。尽管Th17细胞与其他形式的胃炎有关，但尚未在慢性胃炎中进行评估。目的本研究的目的是评估患有和不患有慢性胃炎的FD患儿的Th17细胞。方法分别测定胃窦和十二指肠中Th17细胞，嗜酸性粒细胞和肥大细胞的密度。比较了五组的密度：慢性胃炎的FD（N = 20），无慢性胃炎的FD（N = 20），幽门螺杆菌相关性胃炎（N = 10），克罗恩氏胃炎（N = 10）和正常对照（ N = 10）。还比较了有和没有饱腹感的患者的Th17密度。结果与慢性对照相比，慢性胃炎的FD与Th17细胞密度更高有关，并且与幽门螺杆菌相关的胃炎和克罗恩氏胃炎相当。与无胃炎的FD患者或正常对照组相比，患有慢性胃炎的FD患者的嗜酸性粒细胞和肥大细胞密度更高。报告早期饱腹感的患者的Th17密度较高，但上腹部疼痛的患者则不高。结论与没有慢性胃炎或正常对照组的FD相比，患有慢性胃炎的FD与较高的Th17细胞，嗜酸性粒细胞和肥大细胞密度有关。慢性胃炎显示Th17细胞密度与认为Th17细胞具有致病作用的其他情况相似。Th17细胞可能代表这些患者的另一个治疗靶标。