THE ROLE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI IN DISRUPTION OF CELL - CELL JUNCTIONS OF GASTRIC EPITHELIAL CELLS

Abstract

H. PYLORI, THE MAJOR ETIOLOGICAL AGENT OF VARIOUS GASTRODUODENAL DISEASES, IS KNOWN TO CAUSE TIGHT JUNCTION DISRUPTION. HOWEVER, THE MECHANISM REMAINS HIGHLY ELUSIVE. THIS STUDY AIMS TO ELUCIDATE THE ROLE OF H. PYLORI IN DISRUPTING GASTRIC EPITHELIAL CELL-CELL JUNCTIONS. THIS STUDY SHOWS THAT H. PYLORI PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN DELOCALIZING THE TIGHT JUNCTION PROTEINS RESULTING IN THE DISRUPTION OF CELL-CELL JUNCTIONS WITH AN ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF MAPK/ERK PATHWAY AND HPGGT. TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND EPIGENETIC ANALYSES FURTHER ESTABLISHED THE ROLE OF H. PYLORI IN REGULATING CELL JUNCTION ASSEMBLY AND MAPK CASCADE, CONTRIBUTING TO HOST PATHOGENESIS. THESE FINDINGS SHED MORE LIGHT INTO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF COMPLEX HOST-PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS WHEREIN THE INTERPLAY OF ACTIVATED HOST SIGNALLING MOLECULES AND BACTERIAL VIRULENCE FACTORS INDUCE CELL JUNCTION DISRUPTION.