Role of protease-activated receptor-2 on cell death and DNA fragmentation in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells | Lim and Kim Journal ofTranslational Medicine 2010 8 85 http content 8 1 85 RESEARCH JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE Open Access Role of protease-activated receptor-2 on cell death and DNA fragmentation in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells Joo Weon Lim Hyeyoung Kim Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori H. pylori infection is associated with chronic gastritis peptic ulceration and gastric carcinoma. Protease-activated receptor-2 PAR-2 which is activated by trypsin induced the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases MAPK cell proliferation and apoptosis in several cells. Previously we found that H. pylori induces the expression of PAR-2 which mediates the expression of adhesion molecules integrins in gastric epithelial cells. In the present study the role of PAR-2 on H. pylori-induced cell death was investigated by determining cell viability DNA fragmentation and the activation of MAPK in gastric epithelial AGS cells. Methods AGS cells were cultured in the presence of H. pylori transfected with PAR-2 antisense AS oligonucleotide ODN or treated with a soybean trypsin inhibitor SBTI . Viable cells and DNA fragmentation were determined by trypan blue exclusion assay and the amount of oligonucleosome-bound DNA respectively. The activation of MAPK such as extracellular signal-regulated kinases ERK p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinases JNK was assessed by Western blotting for phospho-specific forms of MAPK. Results H. pylori-induced cell death and DNA fragmentation augmented in the cells transfected with PAR-2 AS ODN or treated with SBTI. The activation of MAPK induced by H. pylori were suppressed by transfection with PAR-2 AS ODN or treatment with SBTI. Conclusion PAR-2 whose expression is induced by H. pylori may prevent cell death and DNA fragmentation with the activation of MAPK in gastric epithelial cells. Background Helicobacter pylori H. pylori has been shown to be an important pathogen of gastroduodenal .
