Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori is predominantly known for its tight association with peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer development. However, recent epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that chronic infection with H. pylori may at the same time be beneficial to the host by conferring protection against gastroesophageal diseases, asthma, other allergic disease manifestations and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In this chapter, we summarize the epidemiological data that are available to date to support or refute a possible inverse correlation of H. pylori infection with various extragastric diseases. We further examine and discuss the experimental evidence, generated mostly in mouse models of allergic diseases and IBD, showing that these disorders fail to develop in the presence of H. pylori. The proposed mechanisms of the protective effects of H. pylori, which appear to involve the induction of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) with highly suppressive activity, are presented and explained.
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