Helicobacter Pylori-Induced Gastric Infections: From Pathogenesis to Novel Therapeutic Approaches Using Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is the first formally recognized bacterial carcinogen and the most important single digestive pathogen responsible for the induction of gastroduodenal diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, and, finally, gastric neoplasia. The recently reported high rates of antimicrobial drug resistance hamper the current therapies of H. pylori, with therapeutic failure reaching up to 40% of patients. In this context, new treatment options and strategies are urgently needed, but the successful development of these new therapeutic tools is conditioned by the understanding of the high adaptability of H. pylori to the gastric acidic environment and the complex pathogenic mechanism. Due to several advantages, including good antibacterial efficiency, possible targeted delivery, and long tissular persistence, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) offer the opportunity of exploring new strategies to improve the H. pylori therapy. A new paradigm in the therapy of H. pylori gastric infections using AgNPs has the potential to overcome the current medical limitations imposed by the H. pylori drug resistance, which is reported for most of the current organic antibiotics employed in the classical therapies. This manuscript provides an extensive overview of the pathology of H. pylori-induced gastritis, gastric cancer, and extradigestive diseases and highlights the possible benefits and limitations of employing AgNPs in the therapeutic strategies against H. pylori infections.

Prevalence of Her2-neu status and its clinicopathological association in newly diagnosed gastric cancer patients

“…This rate is substantially lower than those reported in other GC studies, where the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection can be as high as 94.40% [15]. Helicobacter pylori infection is clearly described as a risk factor for GC via mechanisms that not only include the development and progression of chronic gastritis and gastric tumors, but also the compromise of immunotherapy efficacy [36][37][38][39]. Globally, close to 90% of non-cardia GC cases are attributable to Helicobacter pylori [14].…”

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Sensitivity and Specificity of 13C/14C-Urea Breath Tests in the Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection

“…H. pylori continues to be a serious health issue in the world, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality from stomach cancer and peptic ulcer disease [ 1 ]. Testing for H. pylori is advised in some cases of dyspepsia, after endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer, for first-degree relatives with gastric cancer, and in the presence of peptic ulcer disease or low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma [ 2 ].…”

“…The spiral-shaped bacteria Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) can be found attached to the stomach’s epithelial lining or in the gastric mucous layer [ 1 ]. H. pylori continues to be a serious health issue in the world, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality from stomach cancer and peptic ulcer disease [ 2 ].…”

Endotoxemia and Gastrointestinal Cancers: Insight into the Mechanisms Underlying a Dangerous Relationship

“…Helicobacter pylori is universally recognized as a primary risk factor in the development of distal gastric carcinoma and gastric mucosal lymphoma [ 70 ]. H. pylori is a spiraliform gram-negative bacterium, able to produce various inflammatory particles, such as VacA, CagA and LPS [ 71 ]. However, LPS produced by H. pylori has always been considered less toxic than LPS produced by other bacteria, such as Escherichia coli [ 72 ] and enterohepatic Helycobacter subtypes [ 73 ].…”