Molecular characterization and polyclonal antibody generation against core component CagX protein of Helicobacter pylori type IV secretion system

Helicobacter pylori promotes inflammatory factor secretion and lung injury through VacA exotoxin-mediated activation of NF-κB signaling

Previous reports have shown that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with respiratory diseases. However, the pathogenesis remains unclear. Vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) is a major H. pylori exotoxin. In this study, we investigated the signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory response to H. pylori infection and VacA. Mice were treated with H. pylori and VacA, and histopathological analysis of lung tissues was performed using hematoxylin-eosin, Masson’s trichrome, and periodic acid Schiff staining. The secretion of inflammatory cytokines was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of VacA, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and p65 NF-κB was analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using the MTS assay and flow cytometry, respectively. In mice, H. pylori infection and VacA treatment promoted the secretion of the inflammatory factors interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-6, and IL-8, increased p65 NF-κB protein phosphorylation, and induced lung injury. Furthermore, H. pylori infection promoted VacA production. In an in vitro cell model, VacA treatment significantly suppressed the proliferation of WI-38 and BEAS-2B cells, promoted apoptosis, induced TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 secretion, and promoted p65 NF-κB protein phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear transfer. The NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7082 alleviated VacA-induced inflammation and apoptosis and increased cell viability. In conclusion, VacA promotes the secretion of inflammatory factors and induces lung injury through NF-κB signaling.

C-terminal domain of CagX is responsible for its interaction with CagT protein of Helicobacter pylori type IV secretion system

Helicobacter pylori are the well known human pathogen associated with gastric cancer and peptic ulcer. Pathogenesis is mainly due to the presence of 40 kb cagPAI (cag Pathogenicity Island) region that encodes the type IV secretion system (TFSS) consisting of a cytoplasmic part, a middle part/core complex (spans from inner membrane to outer membrane), and an outer membrane associated part. CagX and CagT are two important proteins of TFSS that have homology with virB9 and virB7 of Agrobacterium tumefaciens TFSS. In this study, we have shown that the CagX and CagT interact directly by using co-immunoprecipitation of endogenous CagX and CagT and MBP pull down assay. We further authenticate this observation using yeast two-hybrid assay and co-expression of both the protein coding gene in Escherichia coli. We also observed that the C-terminal region of CagX is important for CagT interaction. We reconfirm that CagT depends on CagX for its stabilization. These observations could contribute in overall visualization of assembly and architecture of TFSS because protein-protein interactions among Cag proteins are likely to have an important role in assembly. Thorough understanding about architecture and mechanism of action of cag-TFSS may lead to design controlled drug delivery system.

uPA/PAI system, cathepsin B and hepatocellular carcinoma

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor (uPA/PAI) are a pair of proteolytic enzyme activator/activator inhibitor. Cathepsin B is a lysosomal cysteine protease. It has been proved that cathepsin B can activate uPA. uPA/PAI and cathepsin B are closely related to the invasion, migration and tumor angiogenesis of malignant neoplasms. The uPA/PAI system and cathepsin B play an important role in the occurrence and development of liver cancer.