Protective effect of rebamipide against Helicobacter pylori-CagA-induced effects on gastric epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori CagA dysregulates cell signaling pathways and leads to targeted transcriptional up-regulation of genes implicated in gastric cell injury. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of rebamipide on CagA-induced effects on gastric epithelial cells. We investigated the effects of rebamipide treatment (pre- or post-treatment before or after CagA transfection) on CagA-induced gastric cell injury. METHOD: We evaluated the morphologic changes (hummingbird phenotype) associated with ZO-1 mislocalization by confocal microscopy, IL-8 production by ELISA, and NF-κB activation by luciferase assay in AGS gastric epithelial cells and MDCK cells. RESULTS: Transfection of CagA into gastric epithelial cells induced morphologic changes (hummingbird phenotype), ZO-1 mislocalization, and IL-8 production in gastric epithelial cells. Pre-treatment with rebamipide inhibits CagA-induced effects on gastric epithelial cells, including morphologic changes (hummingbird phenotype) associated with ZO-1 mislocalization, IL-8 production, and NF-κB activity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rebamipide might have a potential role in the protection of H. pylori CagA-induced effects on gastric epithelial cells.