Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric carcinogenesis in rodent models. Semin Immunopathol. 2013;35:177-190. [PMID: 23111700 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-012-0357-1]

Helicobacter pylori CagA and Cag type IV secretion system activity have key roles in triggering gastric transcriptional and proteomic alterations

Colonization of the human stomach with cag pathogenicity island (PAI)-positive Helicobacter pylori strains is associated with increased gastric cancer risk compared to colonization with cag PAI-negative strains. To evaluate the contributions of the Cag type IV secretion system (T4SS) and CagA (a secreted bacterial oncoprotein) to gastric molecular alterations relevant for carcinogenesis, we infected Mongolian gerbils with a Cag T4SS-positive wild-type (WT) H. pylori strain, one of two Cag T4SS mutant strains (∆cagT or ∆cagY), or a ∆cagA mutant for 12 weeks. Histologic staining revealed a biphasic distribution of gastric inflammation severity in WT-infected animals and minimal inflammation in animals infected with mutant strains. Atrophic gastritis (a premalignant condition), dysplasia, and gastric adenocarcinoma were only detected in WT-infected animals with high inflammation scores. Transcriptional profiling, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of micro-extracted tryptic peptides, and imaging mass spectrometry revealed more than a thousand molecular alterations in gastric tissues from WT-infected animals with high inflammation scores compared to uninfected tissues and few alterations in tissues from other groups of infected animals. Proteins with altered abundance in animals with severe Cag T4SS-induced inflammation mapped to multiple pathways, including the complement/coagulation cascade and proteasome pathway. Proteins exhibiting markedly increased abundance in tissues from H. pylori-infected animals with severe inflammation included calprotectin components, proteins involved in proteasome activation, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), interferon-inducible guanylate-binding protein (GBP2), lactoferrin, lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, and eosinophil peroxidase. These results demonstrate key roles for CagA and Cag T4SS activity in promoting gastric mucosal inflammation, transcriptional alterations, and proteomic alterations relevant to gastric carcinogenesis.IMPORTANCEHelicobacter pylori colonizes the stomachs of about half of humans worldwide, and its presence is the primary risk factor for the development of stomach cancer. H. pylori strains isolated from humans can be broadly classified into two groups based on whether they contain a chromosomal cag pathogenicity island, which encodes a secreted effector protein (CagA) and components of a type IV secretion system (T4SS). In experiments using a Mongolian gerbil model, we found that severe gastric inflammation and gastric transcriptional and proteomic alterations related to gastric cancer development were detected only in animals infected with a wild-type H. pylori strain containing CagA and an intact Cag T4SS. Mutant strains lacking CagA or Cag T4SS activity successfully colonized the stomach without inducing detectable pathologic host responses. These findings illustrate two different patterns of H. pylori-host interaction.

Helicobacter pylori disrupts gastric mucosal homeostasis by stimulating macrophages to secrete CCL3

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the predominant etiological agent of gastritis and disrupts the integrity of the gastric mucosal barrier through various pathogenic mechanisms. After H. pylori invades the gastric mucosa, it interacts with immune cells in the lamina propria. Macrophages are central players in the inflammatory response, and H. pylori stimulates them to secrete a variety of inflammatory factors, leading to the chronic damage of the gastric mucosa. Therefore, the study aims to explore the mechanism of gastric mucosal injury caused by inflammatory factors secreted by macrophages, which may provide a new mechanism for the development of H. pylori-related gastritis.

METHODS

The expression and secretion of CCL3 from H. pylori infected macrophages were detected by RT-qPCR, Western blot and ELISA. The effect of H. pylori-infected macrophage culture medium and CCL3 on gastric epithelial cells tight junctions were analyzed by Western blot, immunofluorescence and transepithelial electrical resistance. EdU and apoptotic flow cytometry assays were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis levels. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to study CCL3 transcription factors. Finally, gastric mucosal tissue inflammation and CCL3 expression were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

After H. pylori infection, CCL3 expressed and secreted from macrophages were increased. H. pylori-infected macrophage culture medium and CCL3 disrupted gastric epithelial cells tight junctions, while CCL3 neutralizing antibody and receptor inhibitor of CCL3 improved the disruption of tight junctions between cells. In addition, H. pylori-infected macrophage culture medium and CCL3 recombinant proteins stimulated P38 phosphorylation, and P38 phosphorylation inhibitor improved the disruption of tight junctions between cells. Besides, it was identified that STAT1 was a transcription factor of CCL3 and H. pylori stimulated macrophage to secret CCL3 through the JAK1-STAT1 pathway. Finally, after mice were injected with murine CCL3 recombinant protein, the gastric mucosal injury and inflammation were aggravated, and the phosphorylation level of P38 was increased.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our findings demonstrate that H. pylori infection stimulates macrophages to secrete CCL3 via the JAK1-STAT1 pathway. Subsequently, CCL3 damages gastric epithelial tight junctions through the phosphorylation of P38. This may be a novel mechanism of gastric mucosal injury in H. pylori-associated gastritis.

Artificial intelligence in theranostics of gastric cancer, a review

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the commonest cancers with high morbidity and mortality in the world. How to realize precise diagnosis and therapy of GC owns great clinical requirement. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been actively explored to apply to early diagnosis and treatment and prognosis of gastric carcinoma. Herein, we review recent advance of AI in early screening, diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of stomach carcinoma. Especially AI combined with breath screening early GC system improved 97.4 % of early GC diagnosis ratio, AI model on stomach cancer diagnosis system of saliva biomarkers obtained an overall accuracy of 97.18 %, specificity of 97.44 %, and sensitivity of 96.88 %. We also discuss concept, issues, approaches and challenges of AI applied in stomach cancer. This review provides a comprehensive view and roadmap for readers working in this field, with the aim of pushing application of AI in theranostics of stomach cancer to increase the early discovery ratio and curative ratio of GC patients.

Vitamin D3 Inhibits Helicobacter pylori Infection by Activating the VitD3/VDR-CAMP Pathway in Mice

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is closely associated with the occurrence and development of gastric diseases. Therefore, eliminating H. pylori infection should help to prevent gastric diseases. Vitamin D3 (VitD3, 1,25(OH)2D3) was previously observed to exhibit anti-H. pylori infection activity in clinic, but these results were reported in heterogeneous in vivo studies without elucidation of the underlying mechanisms. In the present study, we established H. pylori infection models in both wild-type and VDR knockdown (VDR-KD) mice, which were used to demonstrate that VitD3 inhibits H. pylori infection by enhancing the expression of VitD receptor (VDR) and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP). Furthermore, VDR-KD mice that exhibited lower VDR expression were more susceptible to H. pylori infection. In cultured mouse primary gastric epithelial cells, we further demonstrated that the VitD3/VDR complex binds to the CAMP promoter region to increase its expression. These data provide a mechanistic explanation of the anti-H. pylori infection activity of VitD3 at the molecular level in mice and suggest a new avenue for the clinical management of H. pylori eradication therapy.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori Induces Immediate Regressive Changes in Early Gastric Adenocarcinomas

OBJECTIVE

Helicobacter pylori eradication is expected to prevent gastric cancer. However, morphological alterations after eradication often hinder accurate diagnosis. Therefore, we evaluated endoscopic and histological changes in gastric tumors after eradication of H. pylori in a time-dependent manner.

METHODS

We classified 144 cases of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of early gastric cancer into the following categories: (i) patients positive for H. pylori with no eradication history, (ii) patients positive for H. pylori who underwent ESD 2 months after eradication, (iii) patients negative for H. pylori with an eradication history of at least 6 months before ESD, and (iv) patients negative for H. pylori with an unknown history. We compared endoscopic and histological factors between the groups.

RESULTS

The characteristics of cancers positive for H. pylori were exploding shape, superficial high-grade atypical epithelium, and a surface proliferating zone. H. pylori eradication induced a series of endoscopic and histological changes, including shape -depression, appearance of surface regenerative and lower-grade atypical epithelium, and a downward shift of the proliferative zone within a period as short as 2 months.

CONCLUSION

H. pylori eradication rapidly causes cancer regression and leads to tumor shrinkage, diminished atypism, and shortened proliferative zone, resulting in drastic morphological changes.

Cellular stress and redox activity proteins are involved in gastric carcinogenesis associated with Helicobacter pylori infection expressing high levels of thioredoxin-1

Helicobacter pylori infection is related to the development of gastric diseases. Our previous studies showed that high thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) expression in H. pylori can promote gastric carcinogenesis. To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms, we performed an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based quantitative proteomic analysis of stomach tissues from Mongolian gerbil infected with H. pylori expressing high and low Trx1. Differences in the profiles of the expressed proteins were analyzed by bioinformatics and verified using Western blot analysis. We found three candidate proteins, 14-3-3α/β, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), in high Trx1 tissues compared with low Trx1 tissues and concluded that cellular stress and redox activity-related proteins were involved in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer associated with H. pylori Trx1.

Time latencies of Helicobacter pylori eradication after peptic ulcer and risk of recurrent ulcer, ulcer adverse events, and gastric cancer: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Helicobacter pylori is associated with peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Therefore we wanted to test how various lengths of delays in H pylori eradication therapy influence the risk of recurrent peptic ulcer, ulcer adverse events, and gastric cancer.

METHODS

This population-based nationwide Swedish cohort study included 29,032 patients receiving H pylori eradication therapy after peptic ulcer disease in 2005 to 2013. Predefined time intervals between date of peptic ulcer diagnosis and date of eradication therapy were analyzed in relation to study outcomes. Cox regression provided hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, history of ulcer disease, use of ulcerogenic drugs, and use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

RESULTS

Compared with eradication therapy within 7 days of peptic ulcer diagnosis, eradication therapy within 8 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 365, and >365 days corresponded with HRs of recurrent ulcer of 1.17 (95% CI, 1.08-1.25), 2.37 (95% CI, 2.16-2.59), 2.96 (95% CI, 2.76-3.16), and 3.55 (95% CI, 3.33-3.79), respectively. The corresponding HRs for complicated ulcer were 1.55 (95% CI, 1.35-1.78), 3.19 (95% CI, 2.69-3.78), 4.00 (95% CI, 3.51-4.55), and 6.14, (95% CI, 5.47-6.89), respectively. For gastric cancer the corresponding HRs were .85 (95% CI, .32-2.23), 1.31 (95% CI, .31-5.54), 3.64 (95% CI, 1.55-8.56), and 4.71 (95% CI, 2.36-9.38), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Delays in H pylori eradication therapy after peptic ulcer diagnosis time-dependently increase the risk of recurrent ulcer, even more so for complicated ulcer, starting from delays of 8 to 30 days.

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and other risk factors among Mongolian dyspeptic patients who have a high incidence and mortality rate of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Mongolia has not only the second highest incidence rate but also the highest mortality rate for gastric cancer globally. In addition to gastric cancer, ulcerative disease complications are also life threatening; thus, investigating Helicobacter pylori infection and other risk factors is essential.

RESULTS

H.pylori infection was high in tested dyspeptic patients from all parts of Mongolia, with an overall infection rate of 80.0%. Logistic regression analysis showed that H. pylori infection was associated with gastritis (odds ratio; 9.0 ([95% confidence interval 5.0-16.2]); p < 0.0001). H. pylori infection (3.3 [2.0-5.4]; p < 0.0001) and > 40 years old (1.5 [1.0-2.0]; p < 0.02) were both associated with atrophy. However, > 40 years old (3.8 [2.4-6.0]; p < 0.0001) and high salt intakes (1.6 [1.0-2.3]; p < 0.02), but not H. pylori infection, were associated with intestinal metaplasia. Excessive amount of salt usage was dramatically higher in northern and western parts of Mongolia, where precancerous diseases, such as erosive esophagitis (for cardia cancer), severe atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia (for non-cardia cancer), were highly prevalent.

CONCLUSIONS

H. pylori infection was the major gastric health problem among the Mongolian population. In addition, environmental factors such as high salt intake worsened the clinical outcome. Therefore, a nationwide screening and eradication of H. pylori infection as well as salt-reducing measures should be implemented.

Prevention of Gastric Cancer: Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori and Beyond

Although its prevalence is declining, gastric cancer remains a significant public health issue. The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is known to colonize the human stomach and induce chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric cancer. Results using a Mongolian gerbil model revealed that H. pylori infection increased the incidence of carcinogen-induced adenocarcinoma, whereas curative treatment of H. pylori significantly lowered cancer incidence. Furthermore, some epidemiological studies have shown that eradication of H. pylori reduces the development of metachronous cancer in humans. However, other reports have warned that human cases of atrophic metaplastic gastritis are already at risk for gastric cancer development, even after eradication of these bacteria. In this article, we discuss the effectiveness of H. pylori eradication and the morphological changes that occur in gastric dysplasia/cancer lesions. We further assess the control of gastric cancer using various chemopreventive agents.

Chemopreventive Strategies for Inflammation-Related Carcinogenesis: Current Status and Future Direction

A sustained and chronically-inflamed environment is characterized by the presence of heterogeneous inflammatory cellular components, including neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and fibroblasts. These infiltrated cells produce growth stimulating mediators (inflammatory cytokines and growth factors), chemotactic factors (chemokines) and genotoxic substances (reactive oxygen species and nitrogen oxide) and induce DNA damage and methylation. Therefore, chronic inflammation serves as an intrinsic niche for carcinogenesis and tumor progression. In this article, we summarize the up-to-date findings regarding definitive/possible causes and mechanisms of inflammation-related carcinogenesis derived from experimental and clinical studies. We also propose 10 strategies, as well as candidate agents for the prevention of inflammation-related carcinogenesis.

Helicobacter pylori as an oncogenic pathogen, revisited

Gastric cancer is an inflammation-associated malignancy aetiologically related to infection with the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, which is considered a necessary but insufficient cause. Unless treated, H. pylori causes life-long acute and chronic gastric inflammation resulting in progressive gastric mucosal damage that may result in gastric cancer. The rate of progression from superficial gastritis, to an atrophic metaplastic mucosa, and ultimately to cancer relates to the virulence of the infecting H. pylori as well as host and environmental factors. H. pylori virulence is a reflection of its propensity to cause severe gastric inflammation. Both mucosal inflammation and H. pylori can cause host genomic instability, including dysregulation of DNA mismatch repair, stimulation of expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase, abnormal DNA methylation and dysregulation of  micro RNAs, which may result in an accumulation of mutations and loss of normal regulation of cell growth. The difference in cancer risk between the most and least virulent H. pylori strain is only approximately 2-fold. Overall, none of the putative virulence factors identified to date have proved to be disease-specific. The presence, severity, extent and duration of inflammation appear to be the most important factors and current evidence suggests that any host, environmental or bacterial factor that reliably enhances the inflammatory response to the H. pylori infection increases the risk of gastric cancer.

The Clinical Evidence Linking Helicobacter pylori to Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer has long been recognized to be accompanied and preceded by chronic gastritis, lasting decades. Arguably, the most important development in our understanding of gastric cancer pathogenesis over the past 50 years has been the realization that, for most cases of gastric cancer, Helicobacter pylori is the cause of the underlying gastritis. Gastritis can promote gastric carcinogenesis, typically via the Correa cascade of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia. Nested case-control studies have shown that H pylori infection increases the risk of gastric cancer significantly, both of the intestinal and diffuse subtypes, and that H pylori is responsible for approximately 90% of the world's burden of noncardia gastric cancer. Based largely on randomized studies in high gastric cancer prevalence regions in East Asia, it appears that primary and tertiary intervention to eradicate H pylori can halve the risk of gastric cancer. Some public health authorities now are starting screening and treatment programs to reduce the burden of gastric cancer in these high-risk areas. However, there is currently much less enthusiasm for initiating similar attempts in the United States. This is partially because gastric cancer is a relatively less frequent cause of cancer in the United States, and in addition there are concerns about theoretical downsides of H pylori eradication, principally because of the consistent inverse relationship noted between H pylori and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Nevertheless, establishing a link between chronic H pylori infection and gastric cancer has led to novel insights into cancer biology, the gastrointestinal microbiome, and on individual and population-based gastric cancer prevention strategies.

Helicobacter pylori with high thioredoxin-1 expression promotes stomach carcinogenesis in Mongolian gerbils

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies by this group have shown that Helicobacter pylori with high thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) expression might be involved in stomach carcinogenesis in vitro. To study histopathological changes of the stomach mucosa in vivo, a Mongolian gerbil model infected with H. pylori with high Trx1 expression was established.

METHODS

Healthy, male Mongolian gerbils (n=75) were randomly divided into 3 groups: controls (n=15), which were not infected with H. pylori, high Trx1 (n=30) which were infected with H. pylori with high Trx1 expression and low Trx1 (n=30) which were infected with low Trx1 expression H. pylori. The animals were sacrificed at 4, 20, 34, 48, 70 and 90 weeks after inoculation.

RESULTS

The Mongolian gerbil model of H. pylori infection was successfully established. Three animals died during the study, leaving 72 animals (controls, n=14; low Trx1, n=29; high Trx1, n=29) examined on schedule. Histopathological analysis of the stomach mucosa showed gradually increased aggravation over time in the high and low Trx1 groups. Compared with control and low Trx1, the histopathological changes were more serious in the high Trx1 group. At 90 weeks, no abnormal changes were found in the controls, but 62.5% of the high Trx1 group and 33.3% of the low Trx1 showed adenocarcinomas. The H. pylori Trx1 level in gastric cancer tissue was significantly higher than that from gastritis tissue. Within gastric cancer cells, high Trx1 expression in H. pylori significantly upregulated cyclin D1.

CONCLUSIONS

High Trx1 expression in H. pylori promoted stomach carcinogenesis. More studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Capsaicin and Piperine on Helicobacter pylori-Induced Chronic Gastritis in Mongolian Gerbils

BACKGROUND

Spices have been used for thousands of years, and recent studies suggest that certain spices confer beneficial effects on gastric disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible chemopreventive effects of spice-derived compounds on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced gastritis.

METHODS

We examined the inhibitory effects of curcumin, capsaicin, and piperine on H. pylori in vitro by determining the colony-forming units and real-time RT-PCR in H. pylori stimulated AGS gastric cancer cells. For in vivo analysis, 6-week-old SPF male Mongolian gerbils were infected with H. pylori, fed diets containing 5000 ppm curcumin, 100 ppm capsaicin, or 100 ppm piperine, and sacrificed after 13 weeks.

RESULTS

All three compounds inhibited in vitro proliferation of H. pylori, with curcumin being the most effective. Infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells was suppressed by piperine both in the antrum and corpus of H. pylori-infected gerbils. Capsaicin also decreased neutrophils in the antrum and corpus and mononuclear cell infiltration and heterotopic proliferative glands in the corpus. mRNA expression of Tnf-α and formation of phospho-IκB-α in the antrum were reduced by both capsaicin and piperine. In addition, piperine suppressed expression of Il-1β, Ifn-γ, Il-6, and iNos, while H. pylori UreA and other virulence factors were not significantly attenuated by any compounds.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that capsaicin and piperine have anti-inflammatory effects on H. pylori-induced gastritis in gerbils independent of direct antibacterial effects and may thus have potential for use in the chemoprevention of H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis.

Two distinct etiologies of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma: interactions among pH, Helicobacter pylori, and bile acids

Gastric cancer can be classified as cardia and non-cardia subtypes according to the anatomic site. Although the gastric cancer incidence has decreased steadily in several countries over the past 50 years, the incidence of cardia cancers and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) continue to increase. The etiological factors involved in the development of both cardia cancers and EACs are associated with high animal fat intake, which causes severe obesity. Central obesity plays roles in cardiac-type mucosa lengthening and partial hiatus hernia development. There are two distinct etiologies of cardia cancer subtypes: one associated with gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which predominantly occurs in patients without Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and resembles EAC, and the other associated with H. pylori atrophic gastritis, which resembles non-cardia cancer. The former can be developed in the environment of high volume duodenal content reflux, including bile acids and a higher acid production in H. pylori-negative patients. N-nitroso compounds, which are generated from the refluxate that includes a large volume of bile acids and are stabilized in the stomach (which has high levels of gastric acid), play a pivotal role in this carcinogenesis. The latter can be associated with the changing colonization of H. pylori from the distal to the proximal stomach with atrophic gastritis because a high concentration of soluble bile acids in an environment of low acid production is likely to act as a bactericide or chemorepellent for H. pylori in the distal stomach. The manuscript introduces new insights in causative factors of adenocarcinoma of the cardia about the role of bile acids in gastro-esophageal refluxate based upon robust evidences supporting interactions among pH, H. pylori, and bile acids.

Helicobacter pylori update: gastric cancer, reliable therapy, and possible benefits

Helicobacter pylori infection contributes to the development of diverse gastric and extragastric diseases. The infection is necessary but not sufficient for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. Its eradication would eliminate a major worldwide cause of cancer death, therefore there is much interest in identifying how, if, and when this can be accomplished. There are several mechanisms by which H pylori contributes to the development of gastric cancer. Gastric adenocarcinoma is one of many cancers associated with inflammation, which is induced by H pylori infection, yet the bacteria also cause genetic and epigenetic changes that lead to genetic instability in gastric epithelial cells. H pylori eradication reduces both. However, many factors must be considered in determining whether treating this bacterial infection will prevent cancer or only reduce its risk-these must be considered in designing reliable and effective eradication therapies. Furthermore, H pylori infection has been proposed to provide some benefits, such as reducing the risks of obesity or childhood asthma. When tested, these hypotheses have not been confirmed and are therefore most likely false.

No Correlation of Inflammation With Colonization of Helicobacter pylori in the Stomach of Mice Fed High-salt Diet

Background:

Previous studies on Helicobacter pylori infection in mice have contributed to better understanding of the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis and gastric carcinoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate H. pylori colonization and subsequent inflammatory responses in the stomachs of C57BL/6 mice depending on inoculation number and the presence of high-salt diet.

Methods:

Eighty-four female mice with 4 weeks age were used in this study. The infected mice were gavaged with H. pylori strain Sydney-1 (SS1), and the uninfected mice were dosed with vehicle. In each of these groups, half of the mice were fed ona basal diet (0.25% salt) and the other half were fed on a high-salt diet (7.5% salt). The infected mice were inoculated 4 or 5 times, and infection status and degree of inflammation were checked by culture and histopathology, respectively, after 4 weeks. Gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured by ELISA.

Results:

The overall infection rate was 95.2%; the infection rate after 5 inoculations (100%) was greater than that after 4 inoculations (91.3%). However, no differences in the degree of inflammation were found between 2 groups. The bacterial density was also significantly increased in mice that were on the high-salt diet and had been inoculated 5 times, respectively. Mean neutrophil infiltration in the infected group was 1.7±0.6 (1, minimal; 2, mild; 3, moderate; 4, marked). However, the high-salt diet was not increase the inflammatory grade in the infected group. Gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels did not increased by the high-salt diet and increased the number of inoculation.

Conclusions:

In spite of well colonization of H. pylori in the stomachs of C57BL/6 mice, the degree of subsequent inflammation was irrelevant to high-salt diet and frequent (5 times) inoculations.

Helicobacter pylori induced gastric immunopathology is associated with distinct microbiota changes in the large intestines of long-term infected Mongolian gerbils

Background

Gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation in mice and men are frequently accompanied by distinct changes of the GI microbiota composition at sites of inflammation. Helicobacter (H.) pylori infection results in gastric immunopathology accompanied by colonization of stomachs with bacterial species, which are usually restricted to the lower intestine. Potential microbiota shifts distal to the inflammatory process following long-term H. pylori infection, however, have not been studied so far.

Methodology/Principal Findings

For the first time, we investigated microbiota changes along the entire GI tract of Mongolian gerbils after 14 months of infection with H. pylori B8 wildtype (WT) or its isogenic ΔcagY mutant (MUT) strain which is defective in the type IV secretion system and thus unable to modulate specific host pathways. Comprehensive cultural analyses revealed that severe gastric diseases such as atrophic pangastritis and precancerous transformations were accompanied by elevated luminal loads of E. coli and enterococci in the caecum and together with Bacteroides/Prevotella spp. in the colon of H. pylori WT, but not MUT infected gerbils as compared to naïve animals. Strikingly, molecular analyses revealed that Akkermansia, an uncultivable species involved in mucus degradation, was exclusively abundant in large intestines of H. pylori WT, but not MUT infected nor naïve gerbils.

Conclusion/Significance

Taken together, long-term infection of Mongolian gerbils with a H. pylori WT strain displaying an intact type IV secretion system leads to distinct shifts of the microbiota composition in the distal uninflamed, but not proximal inflamed GI tract. Hence, H. pylori induced immunopathogenesis of the stomach, including hypochlorhydria and hypergastrinemia, might trigger large intestinal microbiota changes whereas the exact underlying mechanisms need to be further unraveled.

New insights into the functions and localization of the homeotic gene CDX2 in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent cancers, and it ranks the third most common cancer in China. The most recently caudal-related homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) is expressed in a large number of human gastrointestinal cancers. In addition, gastric epithelial cell mutations in CDX2 result in tumor promotion, which is characterized by cellular drug resistance and a high proclivity for developing cancer. A series of publications over the past years suggests a mechanism by which CDX2 overexpression results in multidrug resistance. CDX2 appears to forward control regenerating IV and the multidrug resistance 1 expression signaling pathway for regulation of cell drug resistance.

Role of Helicobacter pylori in Gastric Neoplasia

Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most important factors in gastric carcinogenesis in humans. Epidemiological studies have revealed that H. pylori-infected patients develop significantly more gastric cancers than uninfected individuals. In rodent models, H. pylori inoculation causes strong promoting effects in carcinogen-treated animals, whereas the bacterial infection alone causes only hyperplasic, atrophic, and/or metaplastic lesions. In both human and rodent models, eradication of H. pylori helps inhibit gastric carcinogenesis, especially when there is only mild gastric inflammation and no evidence of severe atrophy or intestinal metaplasia. Chemoprevention studies in humans have been reported and have shown the effectiveness of several medications including a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor. Candidate chemicals used in rodent models could hopefully be used in humans in the future.