Modulation of gastric mucosal inflammatory responses to Helicobacter pylori via ghrelin-induced protein kinase Cδ tyrosine phosphorylation

Syk: a new target for attenuation of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric mucosal inflammatory responses

The magnitude of gastric mucosal inflammatory response to H. pylori relies primarily on the extent of its key endotoxin, LPS, engagement of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and the initiation of signal transduction events converging on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and IκB complex (IKK) cascades. These cascades, in turn, exert their control over the assembly of transcription factors, NFκB and AP1, implicated in the induction of the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proinflammatory genes. The LPS-induced TLR4 activation and the ensuing phosphorylation of its intracellular tyrosine domain by Src-family kinases not only leads to recruitment to the cytoplasmic domain of TLR4 of adaptor molecules directly involved in propagation of the signaling cascades converging on MAPK and IKK, but also provides a propitious docking site for a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), the activation of which apparently leads to upregulation in the expression of proinflammatory genes. Here, we review the pathways engaged by H. pylori in the recruitment and interaction of Syk with TLR4 in gastric mucosa, and discuss the cascades involved in Syk-mediated amplification in proinflammatory signaling. We focus, moreover, on the potential role of drugs targeting Syk and TLR4 in the treatment of H. pylori-related gastric disease.

Helicobacter pylori LPS-induced gastric mucosal spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) recruitment to TLR4 and activation occurs with the involvement of protein kinase Cδ

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) has emerged recently as a major effector of proinflammatory genes expression induced by LPS-elicited TLR4 activation, and manifested by the up-amplification in the production of inflammatory mediators, including PGE2 and NO. Here, we investigated the nature of factors involved in the recruitment and interaction of Syk with TLR4 in gastric mucosa in response to H. pylori LPS. We show that stimulation of gastric mucosal cells with the LPS leads to localization of Syk with the membrane-associated TLR4 complex and its activation through phosphorylation on Tyr. Furthermore, we reveal that the membrane translocation of Syk upon the LPS stimulation occurs with the involvement of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ)-mediated phosphorylation of Syk on Ser. Thus, our findings demonstrate that H. pylori LPS-induced up-regulation in Syk activity proceeds through the stage of PKCδ-mediated Syk phosphorylation on Ser, required for its recruitment to the membrane-anchored TLR4, followed by the kinase activation through phosphorylation on Tyr. Hence, the phase of PKCδ-mediated Syk phosphorylation on Ser affects the extent of amplification in gastric mucosal inflammatory response to H. pylori.

Ghrelin and gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Ghrelin, as a kind of multifunctional protein polypeptide, is mainly produced in the fundus of the stomach and can promote occurrence and development of many tumors, including gastrointestinal tumors, which has been proved by the relevant researches. Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs, about 80%), as the most common mesenchymal tumor, also develop in the fundus. Scientific research has confirmed that ghrelin, its receptors and mRNA respectively can be found in GISTs, which demonstrated the existence of a ghrelin autocrine/paracrine loop in GIST tissues. However, no reports to date have specified the mechanism whether ghrelin can promote the occurrence and development of GISTs. Studies of pulmonary artery endothelial cells in a low-oxygen environment and cardiac muscle cells in an ischemic environment have shown that ghrelin can activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling pathway. Moreover, some studies of GISTs have confirmed that activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway can indeed promote the growth and progression of GISTs. Whether ghrelin is involved in the development or progression of GISTs through certain pathways remains unknown. Can we find a new target for the treatment of GISTs? This review explores and summaries the relationship among ghrelin, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and the development of GISTs.

Amphiregulin enhances VEGF-A production in human chondrosarcoma cells and promotes angiogenesis by inhibiting miR-206 via FAK/c-Src/PKCδ pathway

Chondrosarcoma is the second most common primary malignancy of bone after myeloma and osteosarcoma. Chondrosarcoma development may be linked to angiogenesis, which is principally elicited by vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). The expression of VEGF-A has been recognized as a prognostic marker in angiogenesis. Amphiregulin (AR), an epidermal growth factor receptor ligand, promotes tumor proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis. However, the role of AR in VEGF-A expression and angiogenesis in human chondrosarcoma remains largely unknown. This current study shows that AR promoted VEGF-A production and induced angiogenesis of human endothelial progenitor cells. Moreover, AR-enhanced VEGF-A expression and angiogenesis involved the FAK, c-Src and PKCδ signaling pathways, while miR-206 expression was negatively mediated by AR via the FAK, c-Src and PKCδ pathways. Our results illustrate the clinical significance between AR, VEGF-A and miR-206, as well as tumor stage, in human chondrosarcoma. AR may represent a novel therapeutic target in the metastasis and angiogenesis of chondrosarcoma.

The Role of H. pylori CagA in Regulating Hormones of Functional Dyspepsia Patients

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori, Hp) colonizes the stomachs of approximately 20%–80% of humans throughout the world. The Word Healthy Organization (WHO) classified H. pylori as a group 1 carcinogenic factor in 1994. Recently, an increasing number of studies has shown an association between H. pylori infection and various extragastric diseases. Functional dyspepsia (FD) is considered a biopsychosocial disorder with multifactorial pathogenesis, and studies have shown that infection with CagA-positive H. pylori strains could explain some of the symptoms of functional dyspepsia. Moreover, CagA-positive H. pylori strains have been shown to affect the secretion of several hormones, including 5-HT, ghrelin, dopamine, and gastrin, and altered levels of these hormones might be the cause of the psychological disorders of functional dyspepsia patients. This review describes the mutual effects of H. pylori and hormones in functional dyspepsia and provides new insight into the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia.

Helicobacter pylori-induced changes in microtubule dynamics conferred by α-tubulin phosphorylation on Ser/Tyr mediate gastric mucosal secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and its modulation by ghrelin

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) secretion in response to proinflammatory challenge remains under a strict control of factors that affect the stability dynamics of the major cytoskeleton polymeric structures, microtubules (MTs). In this study, we report that H. pylori LPS-elicited induction gastric mucosal MMP-9 secretion is accompanied by the enhancement in MT stabilization as evidenced by the increase in α-tubulin acetylation and detyrosination while the modulatory influence of hormone, ghrelin, is associated with MT destabilization and reflected in a decrease in α-tubulin acetylation and detyrosination. Further, we reveal that the LPS-induced enhancement in MT stabilization and up-regulation in MMP-9 secretion as well as the modulatory influence of ghrelin occur with the involvement of PKCδ and SFK. The LPS effect is reflected in a marked increase in PKCδ-mediated α-tubulin phosphorylation on Ser, while the modulatory effect of ghrelin on MT dynamics and MMP-9 secretion is manifested by the SFK-dependent phosphorylation of α-tubulin on Tyr. Moreover, the changes in α-tubulin phosphorylation and MT stabilization dynamics occur in concert with the Golgi recruitment and activation of PKD2 and Arf-GEF. The findings demonstrate that the enhancement in gastric mucosal MMP-9 secretion in response to H. pylori and its modulation by ghrelin are the result of changes in MT dynamics conferred by PKCδ/SFK- mediated α-tubulin Ser/Tyr phosphorylation.

Role of protein kinase D2 phosphorylation on Tyr in modulation by ghrelin of Helicobacter pylori-induced up-regulation in gastric mucosal matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) secretion

Matrix metalloproteinas-9 (MMP-9) is a glycosylated endopeptidase associated with host reaction to microbial endotoxins and also characterizes gastric mucosal inflammatory response to H. pylori infection. Here, we report on the factors involved in gastric mucosal MMP-9 secretion in response to H. pylori LPS, and the effect of hormone, ghrelin. We show that both the LPS-elicited induction in MMP-9 secretion and also the modulatory influence of ghrelin occur at the level of MMP-9 processing between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi. Further, we demonstrate that the LPS effect is associated with up-regulation in the activation of Arf1, a small GTPase of the ADP-ribosylation factor family, and the recruitment and phosphorylation of protein kinase D2 (PKD2), involved in the secretory cargo processing in the Golgi. Moreover, we reveal that the LPS-induced up-regulation in MMP-9 secretion is reflected in a marked increase in PKCδ-mediated PKD2 phosphorylation on Ser, while the modulatory effect of ghrelin is manifested by the SFK-PTKs-dependent phosphorylation of PKD2 on Tyr. Thus, our findings demonstrate the role of Arf1/PKD2 in mediation of H. pylori LPS-induced up-regulation in gastric mucosal MMP-9 secretion and suggest the modulatory mechanism of ghrelin action.

Regulatory role of guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Dock180 phosphorylation on Tyr/Ser in mediation of gastric mucosal Rac1 activation in response to Helicobacter pylori and ghrelin

A small GTPase, Rac1, is recognized as an important modulator of the inflammatory responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by affecting the processes of phospholipase C activation. The activation of Rac1 involves the exchange of GDP for GTP and is catalyzed by the guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Here, we report on the gastric mucosal GEF, Dock180, activation in response to H. pylori PS, and the hormone, ghrelin. We show that stimulation of gastric mucosal cells with the LPS leads to up-regulation in Dock180 phosphorylation on Tyr and Ser that is accompanied by a massive rise in Rac1-GTP level, while the effect of ghrelin, manifested by a drop in Dock180 phosphorylation on Ser, is associated with a decrease in Rac1-GTP formation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that phosphorylation on Tyr remains under the control of the Src family protein tyrosine kinases (SFK-PTKs), and is accompanied by Dock180 membrane translocation, while phosphorylation of the membrane-localized Dock180 on Ser represents the stimulatory contribution of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) to Dock180 activation. Moreover, we reveal that the interaction between Dock180 and PKCδ is dependent on Dock180 Tyr phosphorylation as well as the activity of PKCδ. Thus, our findings point to the involvement of PKCδ in the LPS-induced up-regulation of Dock180 activation, and suggest the modulatory mechanism of ghrelin influence on the gastric mucosal inflammatory responses to H. pylori.

Mechanism of Rac1-induced amplification in gastric mucosal phospholipase Cγ2 activation in response to Helicobacter pylori: modulatory effect of ghrelin

Membrane recruitment followed by targeted phosphorylation of specific Tyr and Ser residues and the interaction with Rac GTPases are the crucial parts of an elaborate mechanism of PLCγ2 activation essential for its role in linking the specific receptor responses to a variety of hormones and bacterial endotoxins with the intended intracellular targets. Here, we explored the involvement of Rac in mediation of PLCγ2 activation associated with gastric mucosal inflammatory responses to H. pylori LPS and the hormone, ghrelin. We show that stimulation of gastric mucosal cells with the LPS leads to the membrane translocation of Rac1 as well as PLCγ2, while the effect of ghrelin is manifested by elevation in the membrane PLCγ2 activation and suppression in Rac1 translocation. However, blocking the LPS-induced Rac1 translocation, while detrimental to the PLCγ2 activation, has no effect on its membrane translocation. We reveal further that PLCγ2, localized in the membrane in association with Rac1 following the LPS stimulation, exhibits a marked increase in phosphorylation on Ser, while the modulatory effect of ghrelin, manifested by a drop in Rac1 translocation, is associated with a distinct decrease in PLCγ2 phosphorylation on Ser. Thus, the results suggest that H. pylori-elicited increase in gastric mucosal PLCγ2 phosphorylation on Ser serves as an essential platform for Rac1 colocalization and amplification in PLCγ2 activation.

Role of amplification in phospholipase Cγ2 activation in modulation of gastric mucosal inflammatory responses to Helicobacter pylori: effect of ghrelin

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes are crucial elements of signal transduction pathways that provide a common link of communication integrating specific receptor responses to a variety of hormones, growth factors, and bacterial endotoxins with the intended intracellular targets. Here, we examined the involvement of PLC in modulation of gastric mucosal inflammatory responses to Helicobacter pylori LPS by peptide hormone, ghrelin. We show that stimulation of gastric mucosal cells with the LPS leads to the activation and membrane translocation of the γ2 isoform of PLC, phosphorylated on Tyr as well as Ser, while the effect of ghrelin is reflected in the translocation and phosphorylation of membrane-associated PLCγ2 on Tyr mainly. Moreover, we demonstrate that PLCγ2 phosphorylation on Tyr remains under the control of the Src family protein tyrosine kinases (SFK-PTKs), and is intimately linked to PLCγ2 membrane localization, while the LPS-induced phosphorylation of membrane-recruited PLCγ2 on Ser displays dependence on protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) and leads to the amplification in PLCγ2 activation. Thus, our findings link the extent of H. pylori-elicited gastric mucosal inflammatory involvement to the PKCδ-mediated amplification in PLCγ2 activation through phosphorylation on Ser.