The role of Helicobacter pylori cage in the apoptosis of macrophages.
Published: 2006
Language: eng
Number of pages: 109
ISBN-13: 9780494162071
Description: Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative, bacterium that infects 50% of the world's human population. During infection, the host elicits a vigorous immune response that is insufficient to clear infection.  H. pylori-mediated apoptosis of macrophages could be a possible mechanism of immune evasion. However, the bacterial factors which trigger apoptosis remain unclear. Therefore, we determined the role of cagE during H. pylori-mediated apoptosis of macrophages. Following infection with the cagE- mutant, an increase in macrophage apoptosis was detected, compared with cells infected with the wildtype (wt) H. pylori strain or uninfected controls. An increase in ERK1/2 MAPK phosphorylation was detected in  cagE--infected macrophages. In addition, incubation of wt or cagE--infected macrophages with a pharmacological inhibitor, which prevents ERK1/2 phosphorylation, reduced apoptosis. These results indicate that cagE exerts anti-apoptotic effects during the infection of macrophages through the modulation of ERK1/2 MAPK.
Notes: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-06, page: 2706.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2006.

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