Immune response to H pylori

Figure 1 Regulation of CD4⁺ T Cells During H pylori Infection. CD4⁺ T cell numbers increase in the gastric lamina propria of individuals infected with H pylori. These cells are predominantly Th1 cells characterized by their production of IFN-γ. Because the epithelium separates H pylori from CD4⁺ T cells, and also expresses key proteins associated with antigen presenting cells, the gastric epithelium, in addition to dendritic cells, could be involved in the presentation of antigens to these CD4⁺ T cells. The expression of inhibitory B7 related molecules along with CD4⁺ T cells with a regulatory T cell phenotype could be playing a role in limiting the function of effector CD4⁺ T cells.