The Interplay Between Helicobacter pylori and Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) Molecules in the Development of Gastric Cancer and Induction of Immune Response

RPF2 regulates the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND

RPF2 is a crucial factor in ribosome synthesis, which has been linked to the development of several cancers. However, the mechanism of RPF2 in gastric carcinogenesis is unclear.

AIM

To explore the role and mechanism of RPF2 in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.

METHODS

GES-1 was co-cultured with H. pylori in vitro to detect changes in the expression of RPF2. Overexpression and silencing of RPF2 were performed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) and Western blot (WB) were used to determine mRNA and protein expression of RPF2, protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related factors MMP2 and MMP9; cell counting kit 8 and wound healing assays were utilized to evaluate cell viability and migratory capacity; q-PCR, WB, and immunohistochemistry were employed to establish RPF2 expression in cancer tissues.

RESULTS

H. pylori facilitated RPF2 expression and triggered AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Functional experiments showed that RPF2 overexpression could promote a series of malignant transformations such as cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion, and further enhance AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activation. RPF2 knockdown had the opposite effect. In addition, RPF2 expression was higher in gastric cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues.

CONCLUSION

RPF2 plays a significant role in the pathogenic mechanism of H. pylori infection and may be useful in the detection and management of gastric cancer caused by H. pylori infection.

MiR-203 improved renal cell injury in diabetic nephropathy by targeting SOCS6/SOCS7 and inhibiting JAK/STAT pathway activation

This study investigates the role of miR-203 in regulating renal cell injury in diabetic nephropathy by targeting the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins SOCS6 and SOCS7. Using NRK cells, we assessed apoptosis through flow cytometry and TUNEL assays, while real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) quantified miRNA and mRNA expressions. Cell viability was measured using the CCK-8 assay, and cytokine levels were determined through ELISA. We also evaluated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels with specific assay kits. The dual luciferase assay confirmed the interaction of miR-203 with SOCS6 and SOCS7. Western blotting analyzed the protein levels of key signaling molecules including JAK1, p-JAK1, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3.Our findings revealed that high glucose (HG) treatment reduced miR-203 levels, leading to decreased NRK cell proliferation, increased cytokine concentrations (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6), heightened ROS and MDA levels, and increased cell apoptosis. Notably, miR-203 mimics counteracted HG's detrimental effects, while miR-203 inhibitors exacerbated them. Mechanistically, miR-203 directly decreased SOCS6 and SOCS7 expression, thereby inhibiting JAK/STAT3 signaling. Thus, miR-203 provides protective effects against renal cell injury by modulating SOCS and their associated pathways.

Rabeprazole- and vonoprazan-based dual therapies for H pylori eradication: effective with low side effects, rabeprazole being more cost-effective

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the eradication effect of dual therapy based on rabeprazole or vonoprazan for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection.

METHODS

Data from 300 Hp-positive patients were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who received rabeprazole and amoxicillin were assigned to the rabeprazole group, those who received vonoprazan and amoxicillin were placed in the vonoprazan group, and those who underwent conventional quadruple therapy (omeprazole + amoxicillin + clarithromycin + bismuth potassium citrate) were included in the control group. Clinical medical records, including baseline characteristics, symptom manifestations, examination results, treatment regimens, and treatment costs, were collected. The Hp eradication rate, symptom relief, levels of inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP)), incidence of adverse reactions, treatment compliance, and cost-effectiveness ratio (C/E) were compared among the three groups.

RESULTS

In both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses, no statistically significant differences were observed in eradication rates among the three groups (P>0.05). Symptom relief was more pronounced at 44 days of treatment compared to 14 days across all groups (P<0.05). At both 14 and 44 days, significant differences were found in the relief of abdominal distension (14 days: Z=20.644, P<0.001; 44 days: Z=11.577, P=0.003) and belching (14 days: Z=23.234, P<0.001; 44 days: Z=20.194, P<0.001) among the three groups (P<0.05), with the rabeprazole group showing the best improvement, followed by the control group. After treatment, the IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP levels in the rabeprazole and vonoprazan groups were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in treatment compliance among the three groups (χ2=0.224, P=0.894). The C/E was lowest in the rabeprazole group and highest in the vonoprazan group.

CONCLUSION

Dual therapy based on rabeprazole or vonoprazan effectively improves symptoms in patients with Hp infection, with relatively few adverse reactions and good treatment compliance. Additionally, rabeprazole-based dual therapy had a lower cost.

The Role of the Immune Response to Helicobacter pylori Antigens and Its Relevance in Gastric Disorders

Helicobacter pylori (H.p.) is a Gram-negative bacterium endowed with gastric tropism. H.p. infection is widely spread throughout the world, accounting for various pathologies, such as peptic ulcer, gastric cancer, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and extra-gastric manifestations. This bacterium possesses several virulence factors, e.g., lipopolysaccharides (LPS), the toxins CagA and VacA, and adhesins, which elicit a robust immune response during the initial phase of the infection. Of note, the lipid A moiety of the LPS exhibits a lower endotoxic potency than that of other LPSs, thus facilitating infection through a mechanism of immune escape. H.p. colonization of the gastric mucosa induces an initial protective immune response with innate immune cells, e.g., neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages, which engulf and kill bacteria. Moreover, the same cells, along with gastric epithelial cells, secrete cytokines and chemokines, which recruit T cells [T helper (h)1 and Th17 cells] to the site of infection, thus leading to H.p. eradication. In a large subset of individuals, the perturbation of such an immune equilibrium leads to a harmful response, with an expansion of T regulatory (TREG) cells, which suppress the protective immune response. In fact, TREG cells, via the production of interleukin (IL)-10, downregulate Th1- and Th17-related cytokines, thus allowing H.p. survival and the perpetuation of inflammation. As far as the humoral immune response is concerned, B cells, upon H.p. stimulation, produce autoreactive antibodies, and IgG anti-Lex antibodies are harmful to the gastric mucosa. In this review, the structure and function of H.p. antigenic components and immune mechanisms elicited by this bacterium will be described in relation to gastric damage.

Dysregulated expression of the suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) contributes to the development of prostate cancer

Different types of cytokines, growth factors, or hormones present within the tumor microenvironment that can activate the JAK-STAT signaling pathway by binding to their specific cell surface receptors. The constitutive activation of the JAK-STAT pathway can promote uncontrolled cell proliferation and prevent apoptosis contributing to tumor development. Activation of the JAK-STAT pathway is controlled by several regulatory molecules, particularly the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family consisting of eight members, which include SOCS1-SOCS7 and the cytokine-inducible SH2-containing (CIS) proteins. In prostate cancer cells, the irregular expression of the SOCS1-SOCS3, SOCS5-SOCS7 as well as CIS can similarly and differentially result in the initiation of various cellular signaling pathways (in particular JAK-STAT3, MAPK, ERK) that promote cell proliferation, migration, invasion and viability; cell cycle progression; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; angiogenesis; resistance to therapy; immune evasion; and chronic inflammation within the tumor microenvironment which lead to tumor progression, metastasis and poor prognosis. Epigenetic modifications, mainly due to DNA methylation, microRNAs, pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors and androgens can influence the expression of the SOCS molecules in prostate cancer cells. Using strategies to modulate, restore or enhance the expression of SOCS proteins, may help overcome treatment resistance and improve the efficacy of existing therapies. In this review, we provide a comprehensive explanation regarding SOCS dysregulation in prostate cancer to provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of SOCS proteins. This knowledge may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to manage prostate cancer by restoring and modulating the expression of SOCS molecules.

Azobenzenesulfonamide Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors as New Weapons to Fight Helicobacter pylori: Synthesis, Bioactivity Evaluation, In Vivo Toxicity, and Computational Studies

Research into novel anti-Helicobacter pylori agents represents an important approach for the identification of new treatments for chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers, which are associated with a high risk of developing gastric carcinoma. In this respect, two series of azobenzenesulfonamides were designed, synthesized, and tested against a large panel of human and bacterial CAs to evaluate their inhibitory activity. In addition, computational studies of the novel primary benzenesulfonamides (4a-j) were performed to predict the putative binding mode to both HpCAs. Then, the antimicrobial activity versus H. pylori of the two series was also studied. The best-in-class compounds were found to be 4c and 4e among the primary azobenzenesulfonamides and 5c and 5f belonging to the secondary azobenzenesulfonamides series, showing themselves to exert a promising anti-H. pylori activity, with MIC values of 4-8 μg/mL and MBCs between 4 and 16 μg/mL. Moreover, the evaluation of their toxicity on a G. mellonella larva in vivo model indicated a safe profile for 4c,e and 5c,f. The collected results warrant considering these azobenzenesulfonamides as an interesting starting point for the development of a new class of anti-H. pylori agents.