ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the effect of berberine (Ber) on Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-induced human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) injury and the underlying mechanism .METHODS: Berberine (5, 10 and 20 μmol/L) and PD98059 (20 μmol/L), a selective inhibitor of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK)1/2 signaling pathway, were added to Hp-infected GES-1 cells.The cell activity and apoptosis, the levels of interleukin (IL)-1βand IL-8, lactic dehydrogenase ( LDH) activity and the protein levels of Bax , Bcl-2 and p-ERK1/2 in the GES-1 cells were determined by MTT assay, flow cytometry, ELISA, colorimetry and Western blot, respectively.RESULTS: Compared with control group, Hp significantly inhibited the cell activity , increased the apoptotic rate , LDH activity, IL-1βand IL-8 levels, the Bax and p-ERK1/2 protein levels but decreased the Bcl-2 protein level in GES-1 cells (P<0.05).However, these effects of Hp were reversed by berberine at medium-dose and high-dose, as compared with the Hp-infected GES-1 cells ( P<0.05).Moreover, the protective effects of berberine were significantly enhanced by the co-incubation of berberine with PD98059, as compared with the berberine at higher dose (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Berberine may attenuate Hp-in-duced human gastric epithelial GES-1 cells injury by anti-inflammation, promoting cell growth and anti-apoptosis via the in-hibition of ERK1/2 signaling pathway .