New insights of Helicobacter pylori host-pathogen interactions: The triangle of virulence factors, epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNAs

Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is a model organism for understanding host-pathogen interactions and infection-mediated carcinogenesis. Gastric cancer and H. pylori colonization indicates the strong correlation. The progression and exacerbation of H. pylori infection are influenced by some factors of pathogen and host. Several virulence factors involved in the proper adherence and attenuation of immune defense to contribute the risk of emerging gastric cancer, therefore analysis of them is very important. H. pylori also modulates inflammatory and autophagy process to intensify its pathogenicity. From the host regard, different genetic factors particularly affect the development of gastric cancer. Indeed, epigenetic modifications, Micro RNA and long non-coding RNA received more attention. Generally, various factors related to pathogen and host that modulate gastric cancer development in response to H. pylori need more attention due to develop an efficacious therapeutic intervention. Therefore, this paper will present a brief overview of host-pathogen interaction especially emphases on bacterial virulence factors, interruption of host cellular signaling, the role of epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNAs.

Diversity of Helicobacter pylori genotypes in Iranian patients with different gastroduodenal disorders

AIM:To investigate the diversity of Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)genotypes and correlations with disease outcomes in an Iranian population with different gastroduodenal disorders.METHODS:Isolates of H.pylori from patients with different gastroduodenal disorders were analyzed after culture and identification by phenotypic and genotypic methods.Genomic DNA was extracted with the QIAamp DNA mini kit(Qiagen,Germany).After DNA extraction,genotyping was done for cagA,vacA(s and m regions),iceA(iceA1,iceA2)and babA with specific primers for each allele using polymerase chain reaction(PCR).All patients’pathologic and clinical data and their relation with known genotypes were analyzed by using SPSS version 19.0 software.2test and Fisher’s exact test were used to assess relationships between categorical variables.The level of statistical significance was set at P<0.05.RESULTS:A total of 71 isolates from 177 patients with different gastroduodenal disorders were obtained.Based on analysis of the cagA gene(positive or negative),vacA s-region(s1or s2),vacA m-region(m1or m2),iceA allelic type(iceA1and iceA2)and babA gene(positive or negative),twenty different genotypic combinations were recognized.The prevalence of cagA,vacA s1,vacA s2,vacA m1,vacA m2,iceA1,iceA2,iceA1+iceA2and babA were 62%,78.9%,19.7%,21.1%,78.9%,15.5%,22.5%,40.8%and 95.8%,respectively.Interestingly,evaluation of PCR results for cagA in 6 patients showed simultaneous existence of cagA variants according to their size diversities that proposed mixed infection in these patients.The most prevalent genotype in cagA-positive isolates was cagA+/vacAs1m2/iceA1+A2/babA+and in cagA-negative isolates was cagA-/vacAs1m2/iceA-/babA+.There were no relationships between the studied genes and histo-pathological findings(H.pylori density,neutrophil activity,lymphoid aggregation in lamina propria and glandular atrophy).The strains which carry cagA,vacAs1/m1,iceA2and babA genes showed significant associations with severe active chronic gastritis(P=0.011,0.025,0.020 and 0.031,respectively).The vacAs1genotype had significant correlation with the presence of the cagA gene(P=0.013).Also,babA genotype showed associations with cagA(P=0.024).In the combined genotypes,only cagA+/vacAs1m1/iceA2/babA+genotype showed correlation with severe active chronic gastritis(P=0.025).CONCLUSION:This genotyping panel can be a useful tool for detection of virulent H.pylori isolates and can provide valuable guidance for prediction of the clinical outcomes.

Targeting stroma and tumor,silencing galectin 1 treats orthotopic mouse hepatocellular carcinoma

This study examines inhibiting galectin 1(Gal1)as a treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Gal1 has immunosuppressive and cancer-promoting roles.Our data showed that Gal1 was highly expressed in human and mouse HCC.The levels of Gal1 positively correlated with the stages of human HCC and negatively with survival.The roles of Gal1 in HCC were studied using overexpression(OE)or silencing using Igals1 siRNA delivered by AAV9.Prior to HCC initiation induced by RAS and AKT mutations,lgals1-OE and silencing had opposite impacts on tumor load.The treatment effect of lgals1 siRNAwas further demonstrated by intersecting HCC at different time points when the tumor load had already reached 9%or even 42%of the body weight.Comparing spatial transcriptomic profiles of Gal1 silenced and OE HCC,inhibiting matrix formation and recognition of foreign antigen in CD45t cell-enriched areas located at tumor-margin likely contributed to the anti-HCC effects of Gal1 silencing.Within the tumors,silencing Gal1 inhibited translational initiation,elongation,and termination.Furthermore,Gal1 silencing increased immune cells as well as expanded cytotoxic T cells within the tumor,and the anti-HCC effect of lgals1 siRNAwas CD8-dependent.Overall,Gal1 silencing has a promising potential for HCC treatment.

Effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin on immunometabolism,microbiome and liver diseases

Metabolic diseases have overtaken infectious diseases as the most serious public health issue and economic burden in most countries.Moreover,metabolic diseases increase the risk of having infectious diseases.The treatment of metabolic disease may require a long-term strategy of taking multiple medications,which can be costly and have side effects.Attempts to expand the therapeutic use of vaccination to prevent or treat metabolic diseases have attracted significant interest.A growing body of evidence indicates that Bacillus Calmette-Guerin(BCG)offers protection against non-infectious diseases.The non-specific effects of BCG occur likely due to the induction of trained immunity.In this regard,understanding how BCG influences the development of chronic metabolic health including liver diseases would be important.This review focuses on research on BCG,the constellation of disorders associated with metabolic health issues including liver diseases and diabetes as well as how BCG affects the gut microbiome,immunity,and metabolism.

Hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy:The impact of epigenetic drugs and the gut microbiome

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has been increasing for decades.This disease has now risen to become the sixth most common malignancy overall,while ranking as the third most frequent cause of cancer mortality.While several surgical interventions and loco-regional treatment options are available,up to 80%of patients present with advanced disease not amenable to standard therapies.Indeed,traditional cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents are notoriously ineffective and essentially play no role in the management of affected patients.This has led to an enormous need for more effective sys-temic therapeutic options.In recent years,immunotherapy has emerged as a potentially viable and exciting new alternative for the treatment of HCC.Although the current immunotherapeutic options remain imperfect,various strategies can be employed to further improve their efficacy.New findings have revealed epigenetic modulation can be effective as a new approach for improving HCC immuno-therapy.Studying the gut microbiome(gut-liver axis)can also be an interesting subject in this regard.Here,we explore the latest insights into the role of immunotherapy treating HCC,both mono and in combination with other agents.We also focus on the impact of epigenetic drugs and the microbiome in the overall effectiveness of HCC immunotherapy.