Helicobacter pylori-Induced Disruption of Monolayer Permeability and Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion in Polarized Human Gastric Epithelial Cells

Abstract

ABSTRACTHelicobacter pyloriinfection of the stomach is related to the development of diverse gastric pathologies. The ability ofH. pylorito compromise epithelial junctional complexes and to induce proinflammatory cytokines is believed to contribute to pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to use anin vitrohuman gastric epithelial model to investigate the ability ofH. pylorito affect permeability and the extent and polarity of the host inflammatory response. NCI-N87 monolayers were cocultured with live or heat-killedH. pylorior culture supernatants. Epithelial barrier function was measured by transepithelial electric resistance (TEER) analysis, diffusion of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled markers, and immunostaining for tight junction proteins. Supernatants from both apical and basolateral chambers were tested for cytokine production by multiplex analysis.H. pyloricaused a significant decrease in TEER, an increased passage of markers through the infected monolayer, and severe disruption and mislocalization of ZO-1 and claudin-1 proteins. Cell viability was not altered byH. pylori, indicating that loss of barrier function could be attributed to a breakdown of tight junction integrity. Significantly high levels of cytokine secretion were induced by either viable or heat-killedH. pylori.H. pyloriaffects monolayer permeability of polarized human gastric epithelial cells. Proinflammatory cytokines were secreted in a polarized manner, mostly basolaterally. Live bacteria are required for disruption of tight junctions but not for the induction of cytokine secretion. The NCI-N87 cell line provides an excellent model for thein vitrostudy ofH. pyloripathogenesis and the epithelial cell host response to infection.