The Hsp60 protein of Helicobacter pylori: structure and immune response in patients with gastroduodenal diseases

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen that has been associated with gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma. The role of the direct action of H. pylori virulence factors and of the induction of autoreactive immunity in the development of chronic gastritis has not been clarified yet. Here we report the cloning and molecular characterization of a gene of H. pylori coding for a protein of 58 kDa, recognized by sera of patients affected by H. pylori-induced gastroduodenal diseases. This antigen is present in all the H. pylori strains tested and it belongs to the Hsp60 family of heat-shock proteins, with high homology with other bacterial and eukaryotic proteins of the same family. This class of homologous proteins has been implicated in the induction of autoimmune disorders in different systems. The presence in infected patients of anti-H. pylori Hsp60 antibodies, potentially cross-reactivity between human Hsp60 and a rabbit antiserum against H. pylori Hsp60 suggest that a role of this protein in gastroduodenal diseases is possible.

Production and characterisation of monoclonal antibodies to heat-shock protein 60 of Helicobacter pylori

“…The epitope recognised by MAb H9 is similar to the common epitope recognised by MAb 3C8 as reported previously [25, 301, The role of HSPs in the pathogenesis of various diseases has been suggested in various clinical syndromes and bacterial infections [ 14,[35][36][37]. It was also reported that H. pylori induces an immune response against its HSP60 in c. 50% of patients infected by the bacterium and that sera from uninfected people do not recognise this protein [31]. The present study demonstrated an epitope homology between H. pylori HSPGO and human gastric epithelial cells.…”

Expression ofHelicobacter pyloriHsp60 protein and its immunogenicity

“…The cloning products were electrophoresed and visualized on 8 g·L -1 agarose gel ( Figure 1). It revealed that Hsp60 DNA fragment amplified by PCR contained a gene with approximately 1 548 nucleotides, which was compatible with previous reports [36] .…”

“…The genome of H pylori was prepared from cells collected from colonies on a agar plate. The gene of H pylori Hsp60 was amplified from the genome of H pylori by PCR (Techne PROGENE) using the primers Hsp601 (5'-TG GCC ATG GAT GGG CCA AGA GGC AGG AAT-3') as upstream primer and Hsp602 (5'-AG TGC GGC CGC CAT CAT GCC GCC CAT G -3') as downstream primer as described in the literature [36] . Hsp601 and Hsp602 contained Nco I and Not I sites, respectively.…”

Association of serum antibodies to Heat-Shock protein 65 with coronary calcification levels. suggestion of Pathogen-Triggered autoimmunity in early atherosclerosis

“…H pylori produces a 58-kDa HSP that has been shown to stimulate a strong immune response in patients with gastritis and those with gastric cancer. 18,19 Circulating antibodies to the HSP60 family in patients with H pylori infection have been reported. 20 Recently, a positive association between H pylori infection and elevated levels of mHSP65 antibodies in patients with carotid thickness has been demonstrated by Mayr et al 21 We demonstrated, in addition to the correlation between mHSP65 antibodies and H pylori infection, a positive association between antibodies to H pylori infection and coronary calcification.…”