Carbohydrate-dependent inhibition of Helicobacter pylori colonization using porcine milk

Abstract

Breast milk has a well-known anti-microbial effect, which is in part due to the many different carbohydrate structures expressed. This renders it a position as a potential therapeutic for treatment of infection by different pathogens, thus avoiding the drawbacks of many antibiotics. In a previous study, we showed that pigs express the Helicobacter pylori receptors, sialyl Lewis x (Le x) and Le b, on various milk proteins. Here, we investigate the pig breed- and individual-specific expression of these epitopes, as well as the inhibitory capacity of porcine milk on H. pylori binding and colonization. Milk proteins from three different pig breeds were analysed by western blotting using antibodies with known carbohydrate specificity. An adhesion assay was used to investigate the capacity of pig milk to inhibit H. pylori binding to neoglycoproteins carrying Le b and sialyl-di-Le x. alpha1,3/4-fucosyltransferase transgenic FVB/N mice, known to express Le b and sialyl Le x in their gastric epithelium, were colonized by H. pylori and were subsequently treated with Le b- and sialyl Le x-expressing or nonexpressing porcine milk, or water (control) only. The degree of H. pylori colonization in the different treatment groups was quantified. The expression of the Le b and sialyl Le x carbohydrate epitopes on pig milk proteins was breed- and individual specific and correlated to the ability of porcine milk to inhibit H. pylori adhesion in vitro and H. pylori colonization in vivo. Milk from certain pig breeds may have a therapeutic and/or prophylactic effect on H. pylori infection.

Gastric Helicobacters in Domestic Animals and Nonhuman Primates and Their Significance for Human Health

“…The prevalence of the infection was very low in suckling piglets, increased rapidly after weaning, and reached 90% in the adult boars and sows. The low degree of infection before weaning despite the high prevalence in adult pigs and thus most probably in the dams of the suckling piglets may indicate maternal protection through antibodies or other antibacterial factors present in sow milk (89), which disappears at weaning. The regrouping of animals at the time of weaning most probably favors the spread of the microorganism from the few piglets infected before weaning to noninfected animals.…”

The Family Helicobacteraceae

“…A high prevalence of ''Candidatus Helicobacter bovis'' has also been reported in cattle from Venezuela (85 %) and Europe (80 %) however they were not detected in the abomasums of goats (Braun et al 1997;De Groote et al 1999b;Gueneau et al 2002;Gustafsson et al 2006). The involvement of ''Candidatus Helicobacter bovis'' in gastric disease in cattle remains unknown ).…”

Helicobacter pylori adhesion to gastric epithelial cells is mediated by glycan receptors

“…A strategy of carbohydrate-dependent inhibition of H. pylori colonization using porcine milk has been tested with success in mice, suggesting that milk from certain pig breeds may have a therapeutic and or prophylactic effect on H. pylori infection (59). In addition, ongoing studies are addressing the potential of using synthetic carbohydrates to inhibit H. pylori adhesion to gastric epithelial cells.…”