Carbohydrate-dependent inhibition of Helicobacter pylori colonization using porcine milk.
Breast milk has a well-known anti-microbial effect, which is in part due to the many different carbohydrate structures expressed. This renders it a position as a potential therapeutic for treatment of infection by different pathogens, thus avoiding the drawbacks of many antibiotics. In a previous study, we showed that pigs express the Helicobacter pylori receptors, sialyl Lewis x (Le x) and Le b, on various milk proteins. Here, we investigate the pig breed- and individual-specific expression of these epitopes, as well as the inhibitory capacity of porcine milk on H. pylori binding and colonization. Milk proteins from three different pig breeds were analysed by western blotting using antibodies with known carbohydrate specificity. An adhesion assay was used to investigate the capacity of pig milk to inhibit H. pylori binding to neoglycoproteins carrying Le b and sialyl-di-Le x. alpha1,3/4-fucosyltransferase transgenic FVB/N mice, known to express Le b and sialyl Le x in their gastric epithelium, were colonized by H. pylori and were subsequently treated with Le b- and sialyl Le x-expressing or nonexpressing porcine milk, or water (control) only. The degree of H. pylori colonization in the different treatment groups was quantified. The expression of the Le b and sialyl Le x carbohydrate epitopes on pig milk proteins was breed- and individual specific and correlated to the ability of porcine milk to inhibit H. pylori adhesion in vitro and H. pylori colonization in vivo. Milk from certain pig breeds may have a therapeutic and/or prophylactic effect on H. pylori infection.
Gustafsson
Anki
A
Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, S-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. anki.gustafsson@clinchem.gu.se
Hultberg
Anna
A
Sjöström
Rolf
R
Kacskovics
Imre
I
Breimer
Michael E
ME
Borén
Thomas
T
Hammarström
Lennart
L
Holgersson
Jan
J
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D005647:Fucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000254:growth & development*; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine
D002241:Carbohydrates; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; D008894:Milk Proteins; D005647:Fucosyltransferases; C019818:3-galactosyl-N-acetylglucosaminide 4-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase