Analysis of the mechanism of gastric inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori infection and development of alternative medicine

幽门螺杆菌（H.pylori）是慢性活动性胃炎和消化性溃疡的主要病因。虽然怀疑细胞因子参与了幽门螺杆菌引起的胃炎症，但其机制尚未明确。本研究采用IL-17基因敲除（IL-17^<-/->）小鼠，研究IL-17在诱导胃炎症和保护幽门螺杆菌感染中的作用。我们的研究结果表明，IL-17可能在幽门螺杆菌感染的炎症反应中发挥重要作用，并最终影响幽门螺杆菌相关疾病的预后。另一方面，对18种中草药的体外和体内抑菌效果进行了评价。大黄、毛细蒿和石竹对幽门螺杆菌均有杀菌作用，但未产生获得性耐药，提示中药有可能作为治疗耐药幽门螺杆菌感染的补充和替代药物。

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is the major cause of chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Although it is suspected that cytokines are involved in gastric inflammation induced by H.pylori, the mechanisms have not been clearly defined. In this study, the contributions of IL-17 to the induction of gastric inflammation and to the protection from H.pylori infection were investigated using IL-17 gene-knockout (IL-17^<-/->) mice. Our results suggest that IL-17 may play an important role in the inflammatory response to the H.pylori infection and ultimately influence the outcome of the H.pylori associated disease. On the other hand, the antibacterial effect of 18 herbal medicines was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Rhei Rhizoma, Artemisiae Capillari Flos and Caryophylli Flos were bactericidal against H.pylori without the development of acquired resistance, suggesting that herbal medicines may have potential as complementary and alternative medicines for treatment of antibiotic-resistant H. pylori infection.