H pylori and host interactions that influence pathogenesis

H pylori is probably the most prevalent human patho- gen worldwide. Since it was initially suggested in 1983 by Marshall and Warren to be implicated in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, H pylori has also been implicated in gastric carcinoma and was classified as a class I car- cinogen. In the last two decades, a noteworthy body of research has revealed the multiple processes that this gram negative bacterium activates to cause gastroduo- denal disease in humans. Most infections are acquired early in life and may persist for the life of the individual. While infected individuals mount an inflammatory re- sponse that becomes chronic, along with a detectable adaptive immune response, these responses are ineffec- tive in clearing the infection. H pylori has unique features that allow it to reside within the harsh conditions of the gastric environment, and also to evade the host immune response. In this review, we discuss the various virulence factors expressed by this bacterium and how they inter- act with the host epithelium to influence pathogenesis.

H pylori receptor MHC classⅡcontributes to the dynamic gastric epithelial apoptotic response

AIM: To investigate the role of MHC classⅡin the modulation of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis induced by H pylon infection. METHODS: After stimulating a human gastric epithelial cell line with bacteria or agonist antibodies specific for MHC classⅡand CD95, the quantitation of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic events, including caspase activation, BCL-2 activation, and FADD recruitment, was performed with a fluorometric assay, a cytometric bead array, and confocal microscopy, respectively. RESULTS: Pretreatment of N87 cells with the anti-MHC classⅡIgM antibody RFD1 resulted in a reduction in global caspase activation at 24 h of H pylori infection. When caspase 3 activation was specifically measured, crosslinking of MHC class n resulted in markedly reduced caspase activation, while simple ligation of MHC classⅡdid not. Crosslinking of MHC class n also resulted in an increased activation of the anti-apoptosis molecule BCL-2 compared to simple ligation. Confocal microscope analysis demonstrated that the pretreatment of gastric epithelial cells with a crosslinking anti-MHC classⅡIgM blocked the recruitment of FADD to the cell surface. CONCLUSION: The ability of MHC class n to modulate gastric epithelial apoptosis is at least partially dependent on its crosslinking. The crosslinking of this molecule has anti-apoptotic effects during the earlier time points of H pylori infection. This effect is possibly mediated by the ability of MHC classⅡto modulate the activation of the pro-apoptotic receptor Fas by blocking the recruitment of the accessory molecule FADD, and this delay in apoptosis induction could allow for prolonged cytokine secretion by H pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells.

H pylori receptor MHC class Ⅱ contributes to the dynamic gastric epithelial apoptotic response

AIM: To investigate the role of MHC class Ⅱ in the modulation of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis induced by H pylori infection.METHODS: After stimulating a human gastric epithelial cell line with bacteria or agonist antibodies specifi c for MHC class Ⅱ and CD95, the quantitation of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic events, including caspase activation, BCL-2 activation, and FADD recruitment, was performed with a ? uorometric assay, a cytometric bead array, and confocal microscopy, respectively.RESULTS: Pretreatment of N87 cells with the anti-MHC class Ⅱ IgM antibody RFD1 resulted in a reduction in global caspase activation at 24 h of H pylori infection. When caspase 3 activation was specifically measured, crosslinking of MHC class Ⅱ resulted in a marked re-duced caspase activation, while simple ligation of MHC class Ⅱ did not. Crosslinking of MHC class Ⅱ also re-sulted in an increased activation of the anti-apoptosis molecule BCL-2 compared to simple ligation. Confocal microscope analysis demonstrated that the pretreatment of gastric epithelial cells with a crosslinking anti-MHC class Ⅱ IgM blocked the recruitment of FADD to the cell surface.CONCLUSION: The results presented here demonstrate that the ability of MHC class Ⅱ to modulate gastric epi-thelial apoptosis is at least partially dependent on its crosslinking. Furthermore, while previous research has demonstrated that MHC class Ⅱ signaling can be pro-apoptotic during extended ligation, we have shown that the crosslinking of this molecule has anti-apoptotic ef-fects during the earlier time points of H pylori infection. This effect is possibly mediated by the ability of MHC class Ⅱ to modulate the activation of the pro-apoptotic receptor Fas by blocking the recruitment of the accessory molecule FADD, and this delay in apoptosis induction could allow for prolonged cytokine secretion by H pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells.

Immune response to H pylori

The gastric mucosa separates the underlying tissue from the vast array of antigens that traffic through the stomach lumen. While the extreme pH of this environ- ment is essential in aiding the activation of enzymes and food digestion, it also renders the gastric epithelium free from bacterial colonization, with the exception of one important human pathogen, H pylori. This bacterium has developed mechanisms to survive the harsh environment of the stomach, actively move through the mucosal layer, attach to the epithelium, evade immune responses, and achieve persistent colonization. While a hallmark of this infection is a marked inflammatory response with the in- filtration of various immune cells into the infected gastric mucosa, the host immune response is unable to clear the infection and may actually contribute to the associ- ated pathogenesis. Here, we review the host responses involved during infection with H pylori and how they are influenced by this bacterium. ? 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.