Evaluation of selected cytokines and mononuclear cell infiltration in gastric mucosa of children with food allergy.

The authors performed simultaneous evaluation of histological changes in gastric and duodenal mucosa, phenotypic evaluation of mononuclear cells infiltration and the levels of selected cytokines of gastric mucosa in children with diagnosed food allergy. It was determined that IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and TNF-alpha were produced locally within alimentary tract mucosa; they may play pathogenic role in food hypersensitivity in children. Increase in the number of T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD8+) and B lymphocytes (CD20+) as well as mastocytes with positive reaction to Mast Cell Tryptase-Mastocyte antibody was also observed in gastric and duodenal mucosa of these patients.