Nanomechanical Hallmarks of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection in Pediatric Patients
Background: the molecular mechanism of gastric cancer development related to <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) infection has not been fully understood, and further studies are still needed. Information regarding nanomechanical aspects of pathophysiological events...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/11/5624 |
| Summary: | Background: the molecular mechanism of gastric cancer development related to <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) infection has not been fully understood, and further studies are still needed. Information regarding nanomechanical aspects of pathophysiological events that occur during <i>H. pylori</i> infection can be crucial in the development of new prevention, treatment, and diagnostic measures against clinical consequences associated with <i>H. pylori</i> infection, including gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and gastric cancer. Methods: in this study, we assessed mechanical properties of children’s healthy and <i>H. pylori</i> positive stomach tissues and the mechanical response of human gastric cells exposed to heat-treated <i>H. pylori</i> cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM NanoWizard 4 BioScience JPK Instruments Bruker). Elastic modulus (i.e., the Young’s modulus) was derived from the Hertz–Sneddon model applied to force-indentation curves. Human tissue samples were evaluated using rapid urease tests to identify <i>H. pylori</i> positive samples, and the presence of <i>H. pylori</i> cells in those samples was confirmed using immunohistopathological staining. Results and conclusion: collected data suggest that nanomechanical properties of infected tissue might be considered as markers indicated <i>H. pylori</i> presence since infected tissues are softer than uninfected ones. At the cellular level, this mechanical response is at least partially mediated by cell cytoskeleton remodeling indicating that gastric cells are able to tune their mechanical properties when subjected to the presence of <i>H. pylori</i> products. Persistent fluctuations of tissue mechanical properties in response to <i>H. pylori</i> infection might, in the long-term, promote induction of cancer development. |
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| ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |