B-cell and T-cell immune responses to experimental Helicobacter pylori infection in humans.

The acute antibody and T-cell immune response to Helicobacter pylori infection in humans has not been studied systematically. Serum from H. pylori-naive volunteers challenged with H. pylori and cured after 4 or 12 weeks was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for anti-H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA established using bacterial lysates from homologous (the infecting strain) and heterologous H. pylori. Proteins recognized by IgM antibody were identified by mass spectrometry of immunoreactive bands separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Mucosal T-cell subsets (CD4, CD8, CD3, and CD30 cells) were assessed by immunohistochemistry. All 18 infected volunteers developed H. pylori-specific IgM responses to both homologous or heterologous H. pylori antigens. H. pylori antigens reacted with IgM antibody at 4 weeks postinfection. IgM Western blotting showed immunoreactivity of postinfection serum samples to multiple H. pylori proteins with molecular weights ranging between 9,000 (9K) to 150K with homologous strains but only a 70K band using heterologous antigens. Two-dimensional electrophoresis demonstrated that production of H. pylori-specific IgM antibodies was elicited by H. pylori flagellins A and B, urease B, ABC transporter binding protein, heat shock protein 70 (DnaK), and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase. Mucosal CD3, CD4, and CD8 T-cell numbers increased following infection. IgM antibody responses were detected to a range of homologous H. pylori antigens 2 to 4 weeks postchallenge. The majority of H. pylori proteins were those involved in motility and colonization and may represent targets for vaccine development.

Helicobacter pylori and H2O2 increase AP endonuclease-1/redox factor-1 expression in human gastric epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Helicobacter pylori infection causes inflammation, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and oxidative DNA damage in the gastric mucosa. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-1 (APE-1)/redox factor-1 (Ref-1) repairs damaged DNA and reductively activates transcription factors, including activator protein-1. Considering that H. pylori generate reactive oxygen species and that reactive oxygen species modulate APE-1/Ref-1 in other cell types, we examined the effect of H. pylori, oxidative stress, and antioxidants on APE-1/Ref-1 expression in human gastric epithelial cells. METHODS: Human gastric epithelial cell lines or cells isolated from mucosal biopsy samples were stimulated with H. pylori, Campylobacter jejuni, and/or H 2 O 2 in the presence or absence of antioxidants. APE-1/Ref-1 expression was assayed by Western blot or reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and its cellular distribution was determined by using indirect conventional and confocal immunofluorescence. New protein synthesis was detected by [S 35 ]methionine labeling. APE-1/Ref-1 function was assessed by using a luciferase-linked reporter construct containing 3 activator protein 1 binding sites. RESULTS: APE-1/Ref-1 protein and messenger RNA were detected in resting gastric epithelial cells. APE-1/Ref-1 protein expression was increased after stimulation with H 2 O 2 or live cag pathogenicity island-bearing H. pylori, but not cag pathogenicity island-negative H. pylori or C. jejuni. H. pylori - or reactive oxygen species-mediated increases in APE-1/Ref-1 expression involved de novo protein synthesis that was inhibited by antioxidants. H. pylori or H 2 O 2 also induced nuclear accumulation of APE-1/Ref-1, and overexpression of APE-1/Ref-1 increased activator protein 1 binding activity. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that H. pylori or reactive oxygen species enhance APE-1/Ref-1 protein synthesis and nuclear accumulation in human gastric epithelial cells and implicate APE-1/Ref-1 in the modulation of the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection.