Helicobacter pylori-epithelial cell interactions: From adhesion to apoptosis

Studies suggest that host cell signal transduction cascades are manipulated during infection with microbes, including the gastric pathogen Helicobacte r pylori. Several putative adhesins have been proposed to mediate the attac hment of H pylori to gastric epithelial cells. Following bacterial binding, a series of signalling pathways are activated in the infected gastric epit helial cell. These signals include both cytoplasmic (such as vacuolization, tyrosine phosphorylation and elevation of cytosolic calcium) and nuclear ( proliferation, apoptosis and chemokine transcription) events. Research aime d at elucidating the interactions that occur between the host cell and the bacterium during infection should improve the limited knowledge of disease pathogenesis.