The neutrophil-activating protein of Helicobacter pylori (HP-NAP) as an immune modulating agent.
During evolution microorganisms have developed several immune modulating strategies. The Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) is a virulence factor that attracts and activates neutrophils, and promotes their endothelial adhesion and the production of oxygen radicals and chemokines, including CXCL8, CCL3 and CCL4. HP-NAP, a TLR2 agonist, is an immune modulator able to induce the expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-23 by human neutrophils and monocytes. In fact, HP-NAP has the potential to shift antigen-specific T-cell responses from a predominant Th2 to a polarized Th1 cytotoxic phenotype, characterized by high levels of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production. Thus, HP-NAP is a key factor driving Th1 inflammation in H. pylori infection and may be a new tool for future therapeutic strategies aimed at redirecting Th2 into Th1 responses, for example in atopy, vaccinology and cancer immunotherapy.
D'Elios
Mario Milco
MM
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. delios@unifi.it
Amedei
Amedeo
A
Cappon
Andrea
A
Del Prete
Gianfranco
G
de Bernard
Marina
M
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000276:immunology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D037521:Virulence Factors; C092412:neutrophil-activating protein A, Helicobacter pylori