Helicobacter pylori CagA promotes Snail-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition by reducing GSK-3 activity

Nat Commun. 2014 Jul 23:5:4423. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5423.

Abstract

Cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) is an oncoprotein and a major virulence factor of H. pylori. CagA is delivered into gastric epithelial cells via a type IV secretion system and causes cellular transformation. The loss of epithelial adhesion that accompanies the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a hallmark of gastric cancer. Although CagA is a causal factor in gastric cancer, the link between CagA and the associated EMT has not been elucidated. Here, we show that CagA induces the EMT by stabilizing Snail, a transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin expression. Mechanistically we show that CagA binds GSK-3 in a manner similar to Axin and causes it to shift to an insoluble fraction, resulting in reduced GSK-3 activity. We also find that the level of Snail protein is increased in H. pylori infected epithelium in clinical samples. These results suggest that H. pylori CagA acts as a pathogenic scaffold protein that induces a Snail-mediated EMT via the depletion of GSK-3.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Down-Regulation / physiology*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / physiology*
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Gastritis / metabolism
  • Gastritis / pathology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Helicobacter pylori / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Stomach / pathology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3