Crosstalk between Helicobacter pylori and gastric epithelial cells is impaired by docosahexaenoic acid

PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e60657. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060657. Epub 2013 Apr 5.

Abstract

H. pylori colonizes half of the world's population leading to gastritis, ulcers and gastric cancer. H. pylori strains resistant to antibiotics are increasing which raises the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to decrease H. pylori growth and its associated-inflammation through mechanisms poorly characterized. We aimed to explore DHA action on H. pylori-mediated inflammation and adhesion to gastric epithelial cells (AGS) and also to identify bacterial structures affected by DHA. H. pylori growth and metabolism was assessed in liquid cultures. Bacterial adhesion to AGS cells was visualized by transmission electron microscopy and quantified by an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Inflammatory proteins were assessed by immunoblotting in infected AGS cells, previously treated with DHA. Bacterial total and outer membrane protein composition was analyzed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Concentrations of 100 µM of DHA decreased H. pylori growth, whereas concentrations higher than 250 µM irreversibly inhibited bacteria survival. DHA reduced ATP production and adhesion to AGS cells. AGS cells infected with DHA pre-treated H. pylori showed a 3-fold reduction in Interleukin-8 (IL-8) production and a decrease of COX2 and iNOS. 2D electrophoresis analysis revealed that DHA changed the expression of H. pylori outer membrane proteins associated with stress response and metabolism and modified bacterial lipopolysaccharide phenotype. As conclusions our results show that DHA anti-H. pylori effects are associated with changes of bacteria morphology and metabolism, and with alteration of outer membrane proteins composition, that ultimately reduce the adhesion of bacteria and the burden of H. pylori-related inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Adhesion / drug effects
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Wall / drug effects
  • Cell Wall / metabolism
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / microbiology*
  • Helicobacter pylori / cytology
  • Helicobacter pylori / drug effects*
  • Helicobacter pylori / growth & development
  • Helicobacter pylori / physiology*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / microbiology
  • Stomach / cytology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the ERA-NET Pathogenomics (ERA-PTG/0001/2010) and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT - PTDC/SAU-SAP/120024/2010). MC is supported by an FCT fellowship BD/36689/2007. The Acções integradas Luso-Francesas (CRUP-PAULIF) Portugal and France also provided financial support (AF-8/09). Mathilde Bonis was supported by a PhD fellowship (Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche, France). This study was also supported by the ERC starting grant (PGNfromSHAPEtoVIR number 202283) to Ivo G. Boneca. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.