Role of the cag-pathogenicity island encoded type IV secretion system in Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis

Tegtmeyer N, Wessler S, Backert S (2011)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2011

Journal

Febs Journal Wiley-Blackwell

Book Volume: 278

Pages Range: 1190-1202

Journal Issue: 8

DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08035.x

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a very successful human-specific bacterium worldwide. Infections of the stomach with this pathogen can induce pathologies, including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers and even gastric cancer. Highly virulent H. pylori strains encode the cytotoxin-associated gene (cag)-pathogenicity island, which expresses a type IV secretion system (T4SS). This T4SS forms a syringe-like pilus structure for the injection of virulence factors such as the CagA effector protein into host target cells. This is achieved by a number of T4SS proteins, including CagI, CagL, CagY and CagA, which by itself binds the host cell integrin member β1 followed by delivery of CagA across the host cell membrane. A role of CagA interaction with phosphatidylserine has also been shown to be important for the injection process. After delivery, CagA becomes phosphorylated by oncogenic tyrosine kinases and mimics a host cell factor for the activation or inactivation of some specific intracellular signalling pathways. We review recent progress aiming to characterize the CagA-dependent and CagA-independent signalling capabilities of the T4SS, which include the induction of membrane dynamics, disruption of cell-cell junctions and actin-cytoskeletal rearrangements, as well as pro-inflammatory, cell cycle-related and anti-apoptotic transcriptional responses. The contribution of these signalling pathways to pathogenesis during H. pylori infections is discussed. © 2011 The Authors Journal compilation © 2011 FEBS.

Authors with CRIS profile

Nicole Tegtmeyer-Backert
Steffen Backert

Involved external institutions

University College Dublin (UCD) IE Ireland (IE) Universität Salzburg (Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg) AT Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

Tegtmeyer, N., Wessler, S., & Backert, S. (2011). Role of the cag-pathogenicity island encoded type IV secretion system in Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis. Febs Journal, 278(8), 1190-1202. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08035.x

MLA:

Tegtmeyer, Nicole, Silja Wessler, and Steffen Backert. "Role of the cag-pathogenicity island encoded type IV secretion system in Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis." Febs Journal 278.8 (2011): 1190-1202.

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