Clinical characteristics and the expression profiles of inflammatory cytokines/cytokine regulatory factors in asymptomatic patients with nodular gastritis.

Background: Nodular gastritis (NG) has been reported in adult dyspeptic patients, whereas information on NG in asymptomatic patients is limited.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence, clinico-epidemiological characteristics, and expression profiles of inflammatory cytokines or cytokine regulatory factors of NG in asymptomatic adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted prospectively using 2,579 consecutive asymptomatic subjects who underwent screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The expression of inflammatory cytokines or cytokine regulatory factors in the gastric mucosa of NG patients was evaluated using immunofluorescence staining.

Results: NG was diagnosed in 52 patients (2.0%) and showed a predilection for females (M:F = 1:1.89) and young adults (median age: 34 years; range: 25-51 years). All NG patients were positive for Helicobacter pylori infection. Based on multivariate analysis, the risk of NG was increased in patients younger than 40 years (OR, 7.57; 95% CI, 3.76-15.24) and of the female gender (OR, 2.12; 95% CI; 1.05-4.28). Immunofluorescent staining for interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, IL-18, IL-18 binding protein, IL-32, IL-33, and neutrophil proteinase 3 (PR3) was performed on cryosections of gastric mucosa. Interestingly, the expression of PR3 was highly increased in the gastric biopsies from asymptomatic NG patients but was expressed infrequently in the controls.

Conclusions: Asymptomatic NG is associated with H. pylori infection, and a predilection for this condition exists in young females. The PR3 expression of gastric mucosa might play an important role in the pathogenesis of NG.