Cancer-associated strains of Helicobacter pylori stimulate DNA synthesis in IEC-6 cells

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether water extracts of Helicobacter pylori strains, which express CagA, can influence DNA synthesis in untransformed intestinal epithelial cells in vitro.

DESIGN

We used water extracts produced from H. pylori strains (A, B, C), collected from gastric mucosa of gastric cancer patients. Strain A was CagA+/VacA+ whereas strains B and C were CagA+/VacA-. Water extracts from Helicobacter mustelae and Escherichia coli were used as controls.

METHODS

IEC-6 cells (small intestinal epithelial cell line from germ-free rats) were incubated with various concentrations of the bacterial extracts for 24 h. The cells were labelled with [3H]methylthymidine for 4 h and thereafter processed for autoradiography. DNA synthesis was evaluated by the labelling index (LI%).

RESULTS

Water extracts from CagA-positive strains of H. pylori, with or without the capacity to produce vacuolating toxins, increased the LI in a dose-related manner (P < 0.05). The water extracts of E. coli significantly increased the LI (P < 0.001), whereas the water extracts of H. mustelae did not affect DNA synthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer-associated, CagA-positive strains of H. pylori stimulate DNA synthesis in epithelial cells in vitro, independently of their ability to produce VacA toxin. Our findings suggest that unknown mitogenic components of H. pylori may contribute to the increased cell proliferation observed in the histological stages preceding gastric cancer.

Characterization of 51Cr-EDTA as a marker of duodenal mucosal permeability

Proximal duodenum was perfused with various solutions and mucosal permeability assessed by measuring the clearance of 51Cr labelled ethylenediaminetetra-acetate (EDTA) from blood-to-intestinal lumen in anaesthetized rats. Net flux of fluid was determined by measurement of effluent weight changes. Perfusion of duodenum with 50 mM NaCl significantly increased fluid absorption but had no effect on EDTA clearance. EDTA clearance was unaffected by perfusion with 400 mM or 800 mM mannitol. Perfusion with 400 mM NaCl induced a sustained fluid secretion and a small but irregular increase (40%) in EDTA clearance. A significant 3.6-fold increase in clearance was obtained in response to perfusion of duodenum with deionized water. Similarly, perfusion with either 20 mM HCl or 50 mM ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-amino-ethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) significantly increased the EDTA clearance 3.3-fold and 2-fold respectively. Perfusion with a hypotonic HCl-solution (10 mM HCl + 40 mM NaCl) increased fluid absorption and the EDTA clearance. It is concluded that no positive linear relationship exists between luminal osmolality and 51Cr-EDTA movement across the mucosa. It is postulated that high luminal acidity or extreme hypotonicity increase the EDTA clearance by widening of and/or disruption of intercellular junctional structure.