Cortactin Is Required for Efficient FAK, Src and Abl Tyrosine Kinase Activation and Phosphorylation of Helicobacter pylori CagA

Cortactin is a well-known regulatory protein of the host actin cytoskeleton and represents an attractive target of microbial pathogens like Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori manipulates cortactin’s phosphorylation status by type-IV secretion-dependent injection of its virulence protein CagA. Multiple host tyrosine kinases, like FAK, Src, and Abl, are activated during infection, but the pathway(s) involved is (are) not yet fully established. Among them, Src and Abl target CagA and stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of the latter at its EPIYA-motifs. To investigate the role of cortactin in more detail, we generated a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of cortactin in AGS gastric epithelial cells. Surprisingly, we found that FAK, Src, and Abl kinase activities were dramatically downregulated associated with widely diminished CagA phosphorylation in cortactin knockout cells compared to the parental control. Together, we report here a yet unrecognized cortactin-dependent signaling pathway involving FAK, Src, and Abl activation, and controlling efficient phosphorylation of injected CagA during infection. Thus, the cortactin status could serve as a potential new biomarker of gastric cancer development.

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Tailor-Made Detection of Individual Phosphorylated and Non-Phosphorylated EPIYA-Motifs of Helicobacter pylori Oncoprotein CagA

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers11081163 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1163 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pachathundikandi ◽

Gutiérrez-Escobar ◽

Tegtmeyer

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Cross Reactivity ◽

Host Cells ◽

Gastric Disease ◽

Effector Protein ◽

Sequence Motifs ◽

Type Iv ◽

Efficient Detection ◽

H Pylori ◽

Epiya Motifs

The gastric pathogen and carcinogen Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) encodes a type IV secretion system for translocation of the effector protein CagA into host cells. Injected CagA becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated at the five amino acid residue Glutamate-Proline- Isoleucine-Tyrosine-Alanine (EPIYA)-sequence motifs. These phosphorylated EPIYA-sites represent recognition motifs for binding of multiple host factors, which then manipulate signaling pathways to trigger gastric disease. Thus, efficient detection of single phosphorylated EPIYA-motifs in CagA is required. Detection of phospho-CagA is primarily performed using commercial pan-phosphotyrosine antibodies. However, those antibodies were originally generated to recognize many phosphotyrosines in various mammalian proteins and are not optimized for use in bacteria. To address this important limitation, we synthesized 11-mer phospho- and non-phospho-peptides from EPIYA-motifs A, B, and C, and produced three phospho-specific and three non-phospho-specific rabbit polyclonal CagA antibodies. These antibodies specifically recognized the corresponding phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated EPIYA-motifs, while the EPIYA-C antibodies also recognized the related East-Asian EPIYA-D motif. Otherwise, no cross-reactivity of the antibodies among EPIYAs was observed. Western blotting demonstrated that each EPIYA-motif can be predominantly phosphorylated during H. pylori infection. This represents the first complete set of phospho-specific antibodies for an effector protein in bacteria, providing useful tools to gather information for the categorization of CagA phosphorylation, cancer signaling, and gastric disease progression.

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Heterogeneity in the Activity of Mexican Helicobacter pylori Strains in Gastric Epithelial Cells and Its Association with Diversity in the cagA Gene

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.01951-06 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 75 (7) ◽

pp. 3445-3454 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Adriana Reyes-Leon ◽

John C. Atherton ◽

Richard H. Argent ◽

J. L. Puente ◽

J. Torres

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Cell Activity ◽

Variable Region ◽

Gastric Epithelial Cells ◽

Type Iv ◽

H Pylori ◽

Epiya Motifs ◽

In Cells

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori CagA is translocated into gastric epithelial cells by a type IV secretion system and interacts with the Src homology 2 phosphatase, altering cell morphology. Multiple EPIYA motifs in CagA are associated with increased activity in cells and with gastric cancer. The aim of this work was to study the heterogeneity in activity in cells of multiple H. pylori single colonies isolated from a single patient and its association with polymorphism in cagA. The presence of cagA, cagE, cagT, and cag10 was studied with 318 H. pylori isolates from the antra and corpora of 18 patients. AGS gastric epithelial cells were infected with 75 isolates, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion, cytoskeletal changes, CagA translocation, and tyrosine phosphorylation were measured. The cagA 3′-variable region was sequenced for 30 isolates to determine the number and types of EPIYA motifs. Isolates from an individual stomach were usually genetically related and had quantitatively similar phenotypic effects on cells (IL-8 induction and cytoskeletal changes). However, strains from different patients with similar CagA EPIYA motif patterns varied widely in these phenotypes. Among isolates with an EPIYA-ABC pattern, the phenotype was variable: IL-8 induction ranged from 200 to 1,200 pg/ml, and morphological changes occurred in 20 to 70% of cells. In several cases, cagA sequence diversity appeared to explain the lack of CagA activity, as isolates with an EPIYA-ACC pattern or a modified B motif had reduced cell activity. cag pathogenicity island-positive H. pylori isolates displayed a high level of heterogeneity in the capacity to induce IL-8 secretion and morphological changes; an absent or modified B motif was associated with low activity.

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Diversity of 3′ variable region of cagA gene in Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from Chinese population

Gut Pathogens ◽

10.1186/s13099-021-00419-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zhijing Xue ◽

Yuanhai You ◽

Lihua He ◽

Yanan Gong ◽

Lu Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Chinese Population ◽

Statistical Difference ◽

Variable Region ◽

Repeat Region ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

H Pylori ◽

Epiya Motifs

Abstract Background The cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) is one of the most important virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). There is a highly polymorphic Glu-Pro-Ile-Tyr-Ala (EPIYA) repeat region in the C-terminal of CagA protein. This repeat region is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of cagA 3′ variable region and the amino acid polymorphisms in the EPIYA segments of the CagA C-terminal region of H. pylori, and their association with gastroduodenal diseases. Methods A total of 515 H. pylori strains from patients in 14 different geographical regions of China were collected. The genomic DNA from each strain was extracted and the cagA 3′ variable region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were sequenced and analyzed using MEGA 7.0 software. Results A total of 503 (97.7%) H. pylori strains were cagA-positive and 1,587 EPIYA motifs were identified, including 12 types of EPIYA or EPIYA-like sequences. In addition to the four reported major segments, several rare segments (e.g., B′, B″ and D′) were defined and 20 different sequence types (e.g., ABD, ABC) were found in our study. A total of 481 (95.6%) strains carried the East Asian type CagA, and the ABD subtypes were most prevalent (82.1%). Only 22 strains carried the Western type CagA, which included AC, ABC, ABCC and ABCCCC subtypes. The CagA-ABD subtype had statistical difference in different geographical regions (P = 0.006). There were seven amino acid polymorphisms in the sequences surrounding the EPIYA motifs, among which amino acids 893 and 894 had a statistical difference with gastric cancer (P = 0.004). Conclusions In this study, 503 CagA sequences were studied and analyzed in depth. In Chinese population, most H. pylori strains were of the CagA-ABD subtype and its presence was associated with gastroduodenal diseases. Amino acid polymorphisms at residues 893 and 894 flanking the EPIYA motifs had a statistically significant association with gastric cancer.

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Helicobacter Pylori Targets the EPHA2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase in Gastric Cells Modulating Key Cellular Functions

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9020513 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 513 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marina Leite ◽

Miguel S. Marques ◽

Joana Melo ◽

Marta T. Pinto ◽

Bruno Cavadas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Receptor Activation ◽

Degradation Pathway ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

H Pylori

Helicobacter pylori, a stomach-colonizing Gram-negative bacterium, is the main etiological factor of various gastroduodenal diseases, including gastric adenocarcinoma. By establishing a life-long infection of the gastric mucosa, H. pylori continuously activates host-signaling pathways, in particular those associated with receptor tyrosine kinases. Using two different gastric epithelial cell lines, we show that H. pylori targets the receptor tyrosine kinase EPHA2. For long periods of time post-infection, H. pylori induces EPHA2 protein downregulation without affecting its mRNA levels, an effect preceded by receptor activation via phosphorylation. EPHA2 receptor downregulation occurs via the lysosomal degradation pathway and is independent of the H. pylori virulence factors CagA, VacA, and T4SS. Using small interfering RNA, we show that EPHA2 knockdown affects cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion, invasion, and angiogenesis, which are critical cellular processes in early gastric lesions and carcinogenesis mediated by the bacteria. This work contributes to the unraveling of the underlying mechanisms of H. pylori–host interactions and associated diseases. Additionally, it raises awareness for potential interference between H. pylori infection and the efficacy of gastric cancer therapies targeting receptors tyrosine kinases, given that infection affects the steady-state levels and dynamics of some receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and their signaling pathways.

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Diversity of 3’ variable region of cagA gene in Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from Chinese population

10.21203/rs.3.rs-127429/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zhijing Xue ◽

Yuanhai You ◽

Lihua He ◽

Yanan Gong ◽

Lu Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Chinese Population ◽

Statistical Difference ◽

Variable Region ◽

Repeat Region ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

H Pylori ◽

Epiya Motifs

Abstract Background: The cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) is one of the most important virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). There is a highly polymorphic Glu-Pro-Ile-Tyr-Ala (EPIYA) repeat region in the C-terminal of CagA protein. This repeat region is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of cagA 3’ variable region and the amino acid polymorphisms in the EPIYA segments of the CagA C-terminal region of H. pylori, and their association with gastroduodenal diseases.Methods: A total of 515 H. pylori strains from patients in 14 different geographical regions of China were collected. The genomic DNA from each strain was extracted and the cagA 3’ variable region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were sequenced and analyzed using MEGA 7.0 software.Results: A total of 503 (97.7%) H. pylori strains were cagA-positive and 1,587 EPIYA motifs were identified, including 12 types of EPIYA or EPIYA-like sequences. In addition to the four reported major segments, several rare segments (e.g., B’, B’’ and D’) were defined and 20 different sequence types (e.g., ABD, ABC) were found in our study. A total of 481 (95.6%) strains carried the East Asian type CagA, and the ABD subtypes were most prevalent (82.1%). Only 22 strains carried the Western type CagA, which include AC, ABC, ABCC and ABCCCC subtypes. The CagA-ABD subtype had statistical difference in different geographic regions (P = 0.006). There are seven amino acid polymorphisms in the sequences surrounding the EPIYA motifs, among which amino acid residue 893 and 894 had a statistical difference with gastric cancer (P = 0.004).Conclusions: In this study, 503 CagA sequences was studied and analyzed in depth. In Chinese population, most H. pylori strains are of the CagA-ABD subtype and its presence was associated with gastroduodenal diseases. Amino acid polymorphisms at residue 893 and 894 flanking the EPIYA motif had a statistically significant association with gastric cancer.

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The organization of Helicobacter pylori cag-pathogenicity island (cagPAI) genes in multiracial population with histopathological changes of gastric mucosa

10.21203/rs.2.9601/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Alfizah Hanafiah ◽

Shaza Azlin Razak ◽

Hui-min Neoh ◽

Noraziah Mohamad Zin ◽

Bruno S. Lopes

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Gastric Mucosa ◽

Pathogenicity Island ◽

Type Iv Secretion ◽

Virulence Determinants ◽

Gastric Diseases ◽

Cag Pathogenicity Island ◽

Type Iv ◽

Inflammatory Score ◽

H Pylori

Abstract Background: Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacillus that colonises only the mucus layer of the human stomach and is implicated in gastric diseases. Virulent H. pylori harbouring cag-pathogenicity island (cagPAI) which encodes genes for type IV secretion system (T4SS) and CagA protein is one of the major virulence determinants involved in disease development. We examined the entire cagPAI genes in 95 H. pylori isolates from a multiracial population and examined the intactness of cagPAI region with histopathological scores of the gastric mucosa. Results: 95.8% of H. pylori isolates were cagPAI-positive with 23.2% having an intact cagPAI, whereas 72.6% had a partial/rearranged cagPAI. In our study, cag2 and cag4 were found to be significantly higher in H. pylori isolated from Malays, whereas cag4 was predominant in Chinese isolates. We also detected cag24 in significantly high proportion in isolates from the Malays and the Indians compared to the Chinese isolates. The intactness of cagPAI region showed an association with histopathological scores of the gastric mucosa. Significant association was observed between H. pylori harbouring partial cagPAI and higher density of H. pylori and neutrophil activity, whereas strains which lacked cagPAI was associated with higher inflammatory score. Conclusions: The screening of the entire cagPAI genes provides an accurate overview of the cagPAI organisation in H. pylori isolates in a multiracial population. The genotypes of H. pylori strains with various cagPAI rearrangement associated with patients’ ethnicities and histopathological scores might contribute to the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection in a multi-ethnic population.

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The Helicobacter pylori Autotransporter ImaA Tempers the Bacterium's Interaction with α5β1 Integrin

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00450-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 85 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

William E. Sause ◽

Daniela Keilberg ◽

Soufiane Aboulhouda ◽

Karen M. Ottemann

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Host Cell ◽

Type Iv Secretion ◽

Host Cells ◽

Wild Type ◽

Content Type ◽

Type Iv ◽

H Pylori ◽

Α5β1 Integrin ◽

Cell Interface

ABSTRACT The human pathogen Helicobacter pylori uses the host receptor α5β1 integrin to trigger inflammation in host cells via its cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) type IV secretion system (T4SS). Here, we report that the H. pylori ImaA protein (HP0289) decreases the action of the cag PAI T4SS via tempering the bacterium's interaction with α5β1 integrin. Previously, imaA-null mutants were found to induce an elevated inflammatory response that was dependent on the cag PAI T4SS; here we extend those findings to show that the elevated response is independent of the CagA effector protein. To understand how ImaA could be affecting cag PAI T4SS activity at the host cell interface, we utilized the Phyre structural threading program and found that ImaA has a region with remote homology to bacterial integrin-binding proteins. This region was required for ImaA function. Unexpectedly, we observed that imaA mutants bound higher levels of α5β1 integrin than wild-type H. pylori, an outcome that required the predicted integrin-binding homology region of ImaA. Lastly, we report that ImaA directly affected the amount of host cell β1 integrin but not other cellular integrins. Our results thus suggest a model in which H. pylori employs ImaA to regulate interactions between integrin and the T4SS and thus alter the host inflammatory strength.

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Pathogenic potential of Helicobacter pylori strains can explain differences in H. pylori associated diseases rates from Chile and Cuba

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science ◽

10.3329/bjms.v18i3.41629 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 577-585

Author(s):

Ileana González ◽

Lidice González ◽

Armando Rojas ◽

Boris L Rodríguez ◽

Jacqueline Romero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Medical Science ◽

Disease Prevalence ◽

Premalignant Lesions ◽

Unexpected Result ◽

Infection Rates ◽

Pathogenic Potential ◽

Caga Status ◽

H Pylori ◽

Epiya Motifs

Background: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori-related diseases varies geographically and it is partially determined by the virulence of the circulating strains. Cuba and Chile exhibit different gastric cancer rates, on despite of very similar H. pylori infection rates. We determined if differences in the pathogenic potential of H. pylori isolates from Chile and Cuba could explain the disease outcome in each population. Methods: H. pylori isolates from 78 Chilean and 71 Cuban patients were analyzed using PCR for the presence of cagA, babA2, vacA alleles and the pattern of EPIYA motifs. Results: cagA was detected in 94.9 % of Chilean and 64.7 % of Cuban isolates (P < 0.001) and was significantly associated with duodenal ulcer (DU) in Cuba (P < 0.01) but not in Chile. The presence of cagA with multiple EPIYA-C motifs was 18.2 % higher in Chile than in Cuba (P < 0.05). Also, an association was observed between GU (P ≤ 0.05) and premalignant lesions (P < 0.001) with the multiple EPIYA-C motif status of the strains in Chile, but not in Cuba. The prevalence of vacA s2m2 genotype was predominant in Chile (66.7 %), while in Cuba was prevalent the s1m1 genotype (56.8 %); and the last one was significantly associated with the presence of DU in Cuban patients. Conclusions: The cagA status and the EPIYA pattern found in Chilean and Cuban H. pylori clinical isolates partially explain the differences in disease prevalence between both countries. The high proportion of vacA s2m2 genotype in Chile was an unexpected result, needing further studies. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.18(3) 2019 p.577-585

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Protein-Protein Interactions among Helicobacter pylori Cag Proteins

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00066-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 188 (13) ◽

pp. 4787-4800 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Valerie J. Busler ◽

Victor J. Torres ◽

Mark S. McClain ◽

Oscar Tirado ◽

David B. Friedman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Protein Interactions ◽

Secretion System ◽

Type Iv Secretion ◽

Type Iv Secretion System ◽

Protein Protein Interactions ◽

Chromosomal Dna ◽

2D Dige ◽

Type Iv ◽

H Pylori

ABSTRACT Many Helicobacter pylori isolates contain a 40-kb region of chromosomal DNA known as the cag pathogenicity island (PAI). The risk for development of gastric cancer or peptic ulcer disease is higher among humans infected with cag PAI-positive H. pylori strains than among those infected with cag PAI-negative strains. The cag PAI encodes a type IV secretion system that translocates CagA into gastric epithelial cells. To identify Cag proteins that are expressed by H. pylori during growth in vitro, we compared the proteomes of a wild-type H. pylori strain and an isogenic cag PAI deletion mutant using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) in multiple pH ranges. Seven Cag proteins were identified by this approach. We then used a yeast two-hybrid system to detect potential protein-protein interactions among 14 Cag proteins. One heterotypic interaction (CagY/7 with CagX/8) and two homotypic interactions (involving H. pylori VirB11/ATPase and Cag5) were similar to interactions previously reported to occur among homologous components of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens type IV secretion system. Other interactions involved Cag proteins that do not have known homologues in other bacterial species. Biochemical analysis confirmed selected interactions involving five of the proteins that were identified by 2D-DIGE. Protein-protein interactions among Cag proteins are likely to have an important role in the assembly of the H. pylori type IV secretion apparatus.

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Molecular and Structural Analysis of the Helicobacter pylori cag Type IV Secretion System Core Complex

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.02001-15 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Arwen E. Frick-Cheng ◽

Tasia M. Pyburn ◽

Bradley J. Voss ◽

W. Hayes McDonald ◽

Melanie D. Ohi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Secretion System ◽

Effector Proteins ◽

Type Iv Secretion ◽

Secretion Systems ◽

Core Complex ◽

Type Iv ◽

Membrane Spanning ◽

H Pylori

ABSTRACT Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) can function to export or import DNA, and can deliver effector proteins into a wide range of target cells. Relatively little is known about the structural organization of T4SSs that secrete effector proteins. In this report, we describe the isolation and analysis of a membrane-spanning core complex from the Helicobacter pylori cag T4SS, which has an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. We show that this complex contains five H. pylori proteins, CagM, CagT, Cag3, CagX, and CagY, each of which is required for cag T4SS activity. CagX and CagY are orthologous to the VirB9 and VirB10 components of T4SSs in other bacterial species, and the other three Cag proteins are unique to H. pylori . Negative stain single-particle electron microscopy revealed complexes 41 nm in diameter, characterized by a 19-nm-diameter central ring linked to an outer ring by spoke-like linkers. Incomplete complexes formed by Δ cag3 or Δ cagT mutants retain the 19-nm-diameter ring but lack an organized outer ring. Immunogold labeling studies confirm that Cag3 is a peripheral component of the complex. The cag T4SS core complex has an overall diameter and structural organization that differ considerably from the corresponding features of conjugative T4SSs. These results highlight specialized features of the H. pylori cag T4SS that are optimized for function in the human gastric mucosal environment. IMPORTANCE Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are versatile macromolecular machines that are present in many bacterial species. In this study, we investigated a T4SS found in the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori is an important cause of stomach cancer, and the H. pylori T4SS contributes to cancer pathogenesis by mediating entry of CagA (an effector protein regarded as a “bacterial oncoprotein”) into gastric epithelial cells. We isolated and analyzed the membrane-spanning core complex of the H. pylori T4SS and showed that it contains unique proteins unrelated to components of T4SSs in other bacterial species. These results constitute the first structural analysis of the core complex from this important secretion system.

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