Cathelicidin protects against Helicobacter pylori colonization and the associated gastritis in mice.

Abstract

Cathelicidin, an antimicrobial peptide of the innate immune system, has been shown to modulate microbial growth, wound healing and inflammation. However, whether cathelicidin controls Helicobacter pylori infection in vivo remains unexplored. This study sought to elucidate the role of endogenous and exogenous mouse cathelicidin (CRAMP) in the protection against H. pylori infection and the associated gastritis in mice. Results showed that genetic ablation of CRAMP in mice significantly increased the susceptibility of H. pylori colonization and the associated gastritis as compared with the wild-type control. Furthermore, replenishment with exogenous CRAMP, delivered via a bioengineered CRAMP-secreting strain of Lactococcus lactis, reduced H. pylori density in the stomach as well as the associated inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine production. Collectively, these findings indicate that cathelicidin protects against H. pylori infection and its associated gastritis in vivo. Our study also demonstrates the feasibility of using the transformed food-grade bacteria to deliver cathelicidin, which may have potential clinical applications in the treatment of H. pylori infection in humans.

• Authors: L Zhang, J Yu, C C M Wong, T K W Ling, Z J Li, K M Chan, S X Ren, J Shen, R L Y Chan, C C Lee, M S M Li, A S L Cheng, K F To, R L Gallo, J J Y Sung, W K K Wu, C H Cho
• Journal: Gene therapy (Gene Ther) Vol. 20 Issue 7 Pg. 751-60 (Jul 2013) ISSN: 1476-5462 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23254369 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
• Cathelicidins

Topics

• Animals
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides (administration & dosage, genetics)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Gastric Mucosa (drug effects, microbiology)
• Gastritis (complications, drug therapy, microbiology, pathology)
• Genetic Vectors
• Helicobacter Infections (complications, drug therapy, microbiology)
• Helicobacter pylori (drug effects, growth & development, pathogenicity)
• Humans
• Inflammation (drug therapy, microbiology, pathology)
• Lactobacillus (genetics)
• Mice
• Cathelicidins