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Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection is associated with gastritis and marked infiltration of the gastric mucosa by several cytokines secreting inflammatory cells that contribute to sustain and expand the local inflammation. In this study, we sought to examine IL-1β expression in the H.pylori-infected and uninfected gastric mucosa and to elucidate the implication in the pathogenesis of H.pyloriassociated gastritis in humans. Methods: Total RNA was extracted from gastric biopsies of 80 H.pylori-infected patients and 45 H. pylori-negative patients. Mucosal IL-1β mRNA expression level in H.pyloriinfected and non-infected gastric biopsies was determined by real-time PCR. Results: IL-1β mRNA expression was significantly increased in biopsies of H.pylori-infected patients compared to H.pylori-negative patients. Conclusion: Mucosal IL-1β expression level is increased in patients with H.pylori infection. Therefore, we believe that IL-1β might be involved in the pathogenesis of H.pylori infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]