infection induces gastric precancerous lesions and persistent expression of Angpt2, Vegf-A and in a mouse model.

INTRODUCTION

colonizes the gastric mucosa and induces chronic inflammation.

METHODS

Using a mouse model of -induced gastritis, we evaluated the mRNA and protein expression levels of proinflammatory and proangiogenic factors, as well as the histopathological changes in gastric mucosa in response to infection. Five- to six-week-old female C57BL/6N mice were challenged with SS1 strain. Animals were euthanized after 5-, 10-, 20-, 30-, 40- and 50-weeks post infection. mRNA and protein expression of Angpt1, Angpt2, VegfA, Tnf-α, bacterial colonization, inflammatory response and gastric lesions were evaluated.

RESULTS

A robust bacterial colonization was observed in 30 to 50 weeks-infected mice, which was accompanied by immune cell infiltration in the gastric mucosa. Compared to non-infected animals, colonized animals showed an upregulation in the expression of , and at the mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, mRNA and protein expression was downregulated in -colonized mice.

CONCLUSION

Our data show that infection induces the expression of Angpt2, and Vegf-A in murine gastric epithelium. This may contribute to the pathogenesis of -associated gastritis, however the significance of this should be further addressed.