BabA-mediated adherence is a potentiator of the Helicobacter pylori type IV secretion system activity

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jul 15;286(28):25256-64. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.233601. Epub 2011 May 19.

Abstract

Chronic infection of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach mucosa with translocation of the bacterial cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) effector protein via the cag-Type IV secretion system (TFSS) into host epithelial cells are major risk factors for gastritis, gastric ulcers, and cancer. The blood group antigen-binding adhesin BabA mediates the adherence of H. pylori to ABO/Lewis b (Le(b)) blood group antigens in the gastric pit region of the human stomach mucosa. Here, we show both in vitro and in vivo that BabA-mediated binding of H. pylori to Le(b) on the epithelial surface augments TFSS-dependent H. pylori pathogenicity by triggering the production of proinflammatory cytokines and precancer-related factors. We successfully generated Le(b)-positive cell lineages by transfecting Le(b)-negative cells with several glycosyltransferase genes. Using these established cell lines, we found increased mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines (CCL5 and IL-8) as well as precancer-related factors (CDX2 and MUC2) after the infection of Le(b)-positive cells with WT H. pylori but not with babA or TFSS deletion mutants. This increased mRNA expression was abrogated when Le(b)-negative cells were infected with WT H. pylori. Thus, H. pylori can exploit BabA-Le(b) binding to trigger TFSS-dependent host cell signaling to induce the transcription of genes that enhance inflammation, development of intestinal metaplasia, and associated precancerous transformations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adhesins, Bacterial / genetics
  • Adhesins, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Adhesion / physiology*
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems / physiology*
  • CHO Cells
  • Chemokine CCL5 / biosynthesis
  • Chemokine CCL5 / genetics
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Dogs
  • Gastric Mucosa / immunology
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Gastric Mucosa / pathology
  • Gene Deletion
  • Helicobacter Infections / genetics
  • Helicobacter Infections / metabolism*
  • Helicobacter pylori / pathogenicity*
  • Helicobacter pylori / physiology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / microbiology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interleukin-8 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-8 / genetics
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens / genetics
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens / metabolism
  • Metaplasia / genetics
  • Metaplasia / metabolism
  • Metaplasia / microbiology
  • Metaplasia / pathology
  • Mucin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Mucin-2 / genetics
  • Precancerous Conditions / genetics
  • Precancerous Conditions / metabolism
  • Precancerous Conditions / microbiology
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Adhesins, Bacterial
  • BabA protein, Helicobacter pylori
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Interleukin-8
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens
  • Mucin-2