Reactivity of monoclonal antibody to HSP60 homologue of Helicobacter pylori with human gastric epithelial cells and induction of IL-8 from these cells by purified H-pylori HSP60

The monoclonal antibody (mAb) designated H20, which recognizes heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) of Helicobacter pylori, was previously established; and the epitope recognized by the mAb was shown to be species-specific. Using immunohistochemical staining of six gastric biopsy specimens with the H20 mAb, gastric epithelial cells of four biopsy samples stained positively. Flow cytometric analysis showed that H20 mAb reacted with primary human gastric epithelial (PHGE) cells, though the reactivities of the mAbs were different among the PHGE cells prepared. These results indicate that the species-specific epitope recognized by H20 mAb exists on human gastric cells. In addition, affinity-purified HSP60 from H. pylori by H20 mAb induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion from PHGE cells (in one of four cases). These results indicate that H. pylori HSP60 induces IL-8 secretion from human gastric cells, and the levels of IL-8 differ among the various prepared PHGE cells.