Pathogenic bacterium Helicobacter pylori alters the expression profile of p53 protein isoforms and p53 response to cellular stresses

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2012-09, Vol.109 (38), p.E2543-E2550
• Main Authors: Wei, Jinxiong, Noto, Jennifer, Zaika, Elena, Romero-Gallo, Judith, Correa, Pelayo, El-Rifai, Wael, Peek, Richard M, Zaika, Alexander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; apoptosis; bacteria; Binding sites; Biological Sciences; carcinogenesis; cell cycle checkpoints; Cell Line, Tumor; cell proliferation; Cell Survival; Coculture Techniques; Crystal structure; DNA damage; epithelial cells; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Gerbillinae; gerbils; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - metabolism; Humans; Ions; lymphoma; Mutagenesis; NF-kappa B - metabolism; oncogenes; pathogenicity islands; phosphorylation; PNAS Plus; Protein Isoforms; Proteins; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; stomach neoplasms; Transcription Factor AP-1 - metabolism; transcription factor NF-kappa B; Transcriptional Activation; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - chemistry; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1205664109

The p53 protein plays a central role in the prevention of tumorigenesis. Cellular stresses, such as DNA damage and aberrant oncogene activation, trigger induction of p53 that halts cellular proliferation and allows cells to be repaired. If cellular damage is beyond the capability of the repair mechanisms, p53 induces apoptosis or cell cycle arrest, preventing damaged cells from becoming cancerous. However, emerging evidence suggests that the function of p53 needs to be considered as isoform-specific. Here, we report that the expression profile of p53 can be shifted toward inhibitory p53 isoforms by the pathogenic bacterium Helicobacter pylori , which is known for its strong association with gastric cancer and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. We found that interaction of H. pylori with gastric epithelial cells, mediated via the cag pathogenicity island, induces N-terminally truncated 133p53 and 160p53 isoforms in human cells. Induction of an orthologous p53 isoform, 153p53, was also found in H. pylori -infected Mongolian gerbils. The p53 isoforms inhibit p53 and p73 activities, induce NF-κB, and increase survival of infected cells. Expression of 133p53, in response to H. pylori infection, is regulated by phosphorylation of c-Jun and activation of activator protein-1–dependent transcription. Together, these results provide unique insights into the regulation of p53 protein and may contribute to the understanding of tumorigenesis associated with H. pylori .