• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.666-672
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• 2003

Vacuolar degeneration of the gastric epithelial cells is a characteristic feature of the derangement of mucosa where Helicobacter pylori colonizes, and H. pylori vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) has been suggested to playa key role in it. To elucidate the VacA-involved degenerative mechanism, VacA was purified, and its impact on degeneration of HeLa cells was determined. In the presence of ammonium chloride, cell vacuolation by VacA was dose-and time-dependent, however, no detectable degeneration of the cells was observed with the VacA concentration tested. A further increase of vacuolation was shown in cells pre-treated with diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) , and this resulted in a change of the cell morphology to become spherical. Similar phenomena were also observed when HeLa cells were co-cultivated with intact H. pylori cells. It was remarkable to note that the degree of growth inhibition was proportional to the increase in vacuole formation, suggesting that the vacuolation rate would be critical for cell degeneration. Surprisingly, although VacA was itself inhibited by DEPC, its uptake was markedly increased by this agent, similar to that found in cells with Nabutyrate. These data indicate that the cell's tolerance of VacA transport may be critical for vacuolar degeneration and may be changeable during H. pylori inhabitation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2018

Helicobacter pylori is a causative organism of various gastrointestinal diseases, including chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, or gastric adenocarcinoma. Pathogenic factors, such as cytotoxin-associated protein A (CagA) and vacuolating cytotoxic protein A (VacA), play a role. This study analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively the effects of zerumbone on the changes in the protein expression levels of various H. pylori proteins, including CagA and VacA. Approximately 200 significant proteins were screened for the H. pylori 60190 (VacA positive / CagA positive; Eastern type) strain, and proteomic analysis was performed on 13 protein molecules that were clinically significant. After two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), $ImageMaster^{TM}$ 2-DE Platinum software was used for quantitative measurements of protein spots. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used for protein identification. After intensive analysis of the proteins that showed significant changes, a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed as required to verify the results. In this study, the significance of zerumbone as a therapeutic agent for H. pylori infection was examined by screening a new pharmacological activity mechanism of zerumbone.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.233-240
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• 2015

Some virulence proteins of Helicobacter pylori, such as vacuolating cytotoxic protein A (VacA) and cytotoxin-associated gene protein A (CagA) have been reported to be causative agents of various gastric diseases including chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer or gastric adenocarcinoma. The expression level of these virulence proteins can be regulated when H. pylori is exposed to the antibacterial agent, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (C3G) as previously reported. In this study, we analyzed the quantitative change of various virulence proteins including CagA and VacA by C3G treatment. We used 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) to analyze the quantitative change of representative ten proteome components of H. pylori 60190 ($VacA^+/CagA^+$; standard strain of Eastern type). After 2-DE analysis, spot intensities were analyzed using ImageMaster$^{TM}$ 2-DE Platinum software then each spot was identified using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) or peptide sequencing using Finnigan LCQ ion trap mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). Next, we selected major virulence proteins of H. pylori among quantitatively meaningful ten spots and confirmed the 2-DE results by Western blot analysis. These results suggest that cyanidin 3-O-glucoside can modulate a variety of H. pylori pathogenic determinants.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.108-116
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• 2009

The HP0902, a homodimeric 22.1 kDa protein, has been suggested as a putative secretory protein from Helicobacter pylori, although the protein possesses no signal peptide for secretion. Since it may be associated with the virulence of the bacterium, NMR study has been initiated in terms of structural genomics. In our previous effort to assign the backbone NMR resonances, using 800MHz NMR machine at pH 7.8, the resonances from eight of the 99 residues could not be assined due to missing of the signals. In this work, to enhance the extent of assignments, a 900 MHz machine was employed and the sample pH was reduced down to 6.5. Finally, almost all signals, except for those from G9 and S24, could be clearly assigned. The determined secondary structure using the assined chemical shifts indicated that the HP0902 consists of 11 ${\beta}$-strands with no helices. In our database search result, HP0902 was predicted to interact with VacA (Vacuolating cytotoxin A), which is a representative virulence factor secreted from Helicobacter pylori. Thus, molecular interaction between HP0902 and VacA would be worthy of investigation, on the basis of the present results of NMR assignments.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.410-418
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• 2021

Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis through cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI), vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and flagellin as pathogen-related molecular patterns (PAMPs), which, in combination with the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of host cells promotes the expression and secretion of inflammation-causing cytokines and activates innate immune responses such as inflammasomes. To identify useful compounds against H. pylori-associated gastric disorders, the effect of chalcone derivatives to activate the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome was examined in an H. pylori-infected human monocytic THP-1 cell line in this study. Among the five synthetic structurally-related chalcone derivatives examined, 2'-hydroxy-4',6'-dimethoxychalcone (8) and 2'-hydroxy-3,4,5-trimethoxychalcone (12) strongly blocked the NLRP3 inflammasome in H. pylori-infected THP-1 cells. At 10 μM, these compounds inhibited the production of active IL-1β, IL-18, and caspase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) oligomerization, but did not affect the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, and pro-caspase-1. The interruption of NLRP3 inflammasome activation by these compounds was found to be mediated via the inhibition of the interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4)/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway. These compounds also inhibited caspase-4 production associated with non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation. These results show for the first time that certain chalcones could interrupt the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in H. pylori-infected THP-1 cells. Therefore, these chalcones may be helpful in alleviating H. pylori-related inflammatory disorders including chronic gastritis.