Short communicationA regulatory instead of an IL-17 T response predominates in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis in children

Th17 cells seem to have an important role in the efficacy of vaccines against Helicobacter pylori. Because children are a target group for human vaccination and Th17/Treg cells have intrinsically linked and antagonic commitments, we compared the gastric levels of Th17- and Treg-associated cytokines of children and adults. IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels and Foxp3+ cell numbers were higher, but IL-1β, IL-17A and IL-23 were lower in infected children than in infected adults. In conclusion Treg instead of Th17 cell response to H. pylori-infection predominates in children.