Abstract
Helicobacter pylori infection of the gastric mucosa causes an active-chronic inflammation that is strongly linked to the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers and stomach cancer. However, greater than 80% of individuals infected with H. pylori are asymptomatic beyond histologic inflammation, and it is unknown what factors influence the incidence and character of bacterial-associated gastritis and related disorders. Because previous studies demonstrated that the Muc1 epithelial glycoprotein inhibited inflammation during acute lung infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we asked whether Muc1 might also counter-regulate gastric inflammation in response to H. pylori infection. Muc1(-/-) mice displayed increased bacterial colonization of the stomach and greater TNF-alpha and keratinocyte chemoattractant transcript levels compared with Muc1(+/+) mice after experimental H. pylori infection. Knockdown of Muc1 expression in AGS human gastric epithelial cells by RNA interference was associated with increased phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, augmented activation and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, and enhanced production of interleulin-8 compared with Muc1-expressing cells. Conversely, Muc1 overexpression was correlated with decreased NF-kappaB activation, reduced interleulin-8 production, and diminished IkappaB kinase beta (IKKbeta)/IKKgamma coimmunoprecipitation compared with cells expressing Muc1 endogenously. Cotransfection of AGS cells with Muc1 plus IKKbeta, but not a catalytically inactive IKKbeta mutant, reversed the Muc1 inhibitory effect. Finally, Muc1 formed a coimmunoprecipitation complex with IKKgamma but not with IKKbeta. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Muc1 binds to IKKgamma, thereby inhibiting formation of the catalytically active IKK complex and blocking the ability of H. pylori to stimulate IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, NF-kappaB activation, and downstream inflammatory responses.
Highlights
Muc1 Limits H. pylori Colonization of the Stomach—Mouse models of H. pylori infection have shown that the bacterium induces a KC-dependent, neutrophil-dominated chronic gastritis that mimics human infection [12, 18]
Muc1 normally serves to limit H. pylori colonization of the murine gastric mucosa in an antibody independent manner. Because these experiments failed to demonstrate a role for humoral immunity in H. pylori stomach infection of mice, we focused on a potential role for a cellular immune response
The results of this study are summarized as follows. (a) Muc1Ϫ/Ϫ mice displayed increased bacterial load and greater TNF-␣ and KC transcript levels in the stomach compared with Muc1ϩ/ϩ mice after experimental H. pylori infection, (b) knockdown of Muc1 expression in AGS cells was correlated with increased IB␣ phosphorylation, NF-B activation, and
Summary
Mediators and characterized by the activation of signaling pathways that cross-talk between inflammation and carcinogenesis [9]. In support of this hypothesis, stomach infection by H. pylori is associated with epithelial cell gene mutations, inhibition of apoptosis, and stimulation of angiogenesis and cell proliferation, all of which contribute to development of a cancer phenotype [10]. A better understanding of host pro-inflammatory pathways as well as the counter-regulatory mechanisms that normally attenuate inflammation will provide important new information to treat the subset of H. pylori-infected patients who are at increased risk for developing life-threatening gastric diseases
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