Helicobacter pylori induces DNA damage in vitro

A close association between Helicobacter pylori infection and the developme nt of gastric adenocarcinoma in humans has been demonstrated. Therefore, th e direct induction of DNA damage by H. pylori was investigated here using t he in vitro micronucleus assay. After 5 days of incubation with bacterial l ysate a dose-dependent formation of micronuclei was found, which was not li mited to cytotoxic protein concentrations and was not observed after treatm ent with Escherichia coli lysate (control). This induction of DNA damage ma y be a link between chronic H. pylori infection and development of adenocar cinoma of the stomach. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights re served.