Journal: Molecular Medicine
Article Title: Helicobacter pylori VacA modulates TRAF1-mediated 4-1BB/NF-kappaB axis to induce host apoptosis and chronic inflammatory damage
doi: 10.1186/s10020-025-01349-5
Figure Lengend Snippet: Effects of VacA on TRAF1/4-1BB/NF-κB pathway/chemokine IL-8 axis- and apoptosis-related protein expression in GES-1 cells. a-d GES-1 cells infected with vacA + Hp strain and Δ vacA Hp strain at different MOIs (0, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200) for 24 h or different time points (0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 36 h), MOI = 100. a, b Western blot analysis of the target proteins (phospho-p65, p65, TRAF1, 4-1BB, apoptosis-related protein Bcl-xl and Bax) levels. GAPDH was used as an internal reference. c, d the secretion levels of IL-8 from GES-1 cells after infection were measured by ELISA. Comparison between vacA + Hp strain-infected group and Δ vacA Hp strain-infected group under identical MOI conditions (c) or identical intervention time (d) showed statistical significance ( p < 0.001 for all comparisons). e Western blot analysis of the target proteins levels in GES-1 cells incubated with recombinant VacA protein at low concentrations (5 µg/ml and 10 µg/ml) for 48 h or at high concentrations (65 µg/ml) for 12 h. In addition, GES-1 cells incubated with isovolumetric protein buffer and cell culture medium served as a buffer control group and an untreated normal group, respectively. The relative protein expression level of TRAF1 and 4-1BB were compared between recombinant VacA protein-incubated group (10 µg/mL) and the correspondind buffer-incubated group, with statistically significant differences ( p = 0.041, p = 0.037, respectively). The relative protein expression level of p-p65, TRAF1, 4-1BB, Bcl-xl and Bax were compared between recombinant VacA protein-incubated group (65 µg/mL) and the correspondind buffer-incubated group, with statistically significant differences ( p < 0.001, p = 0.039, p = 0.044, p = 0.049, p = 0.047, respectively). f Western blot analysis of VacA, phospho-p65, p65, TRAF1, 4-1BB and apoptosis-related protein (Bcl-xl, Bax) levels in GES-1 cells transfected with pDsRED2-N1-HA/VacA for 48 h. g qRT‒PCR analysis of VacA, TRAF1, 4-1BB and IL-8 levels in GES-1 cells transfected with pDsRED2-N1-HA/VacA for 48 h. GAPDH was used as an internal control. Comparison of relative expression levels of VacA, TRAF1, 4-1BB, and IL-8 between the pDsRED2-N1-HA-VacA-transfected groups and the empty vector pDsRED2-N1-HA-transfected groups showed statistically significant differences ( p < 0.001, p = 0.007, p = 0.009, p = 0.005, respectively). h, i The secretion level of IL-8 in GES-1 cells after incubation with recombinant VacA protein ( h ) or transfection with pDsRED2-N1-HA/VacA ( i ) was measured by ELISA. h Levels of IL-8 were compared between recombinant VacA protein-incubated groups (at concentrations of 5, 10, and 65 µg/mL) and the correspondind buffer-incubated groups, with statistically significant differences ( p = 0.007, p < 0.001, p = 0.005, respectively). i Levels of IL-8 were compared between the pDsRED2-N1-HA-VacA-transfected groups (for 48 h and 72 h) and the empty vector pDsRED2-N1-HA-transfected groups, with statistically significant differences ( p = 0.039 and p = 0.0071). The figure presents the average of three independent experiments ( n = 3). Note: Comparisons were made between two groups using standard two-tailed Student’s t-test. The figure presents the average of three independent experiments ( n = 3). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Error bars represent standard error of mean. *: p < 0.05. **: p < 0.01. ***: p < 0.001
Article Snippet: NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7082 (BAY) (Selleck, USA), Anti-human 4-1BB Blocking Antibody (BioLegend, USA) and Anti- 4-1BB Agonist Antibody (BPS Bioscience, USA) were used at the dose as indicated, cells were pretreated for 2 h.
Techniques: Expressing, Infection, Western Blot, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Comparison, Incubation, Recombinant, Cell Culture, Control, Transfection, Plasmid Preparation, Two Tailed Test