Cross-reactivity of anti-CagA antibodies with vascular wall antigens: Possible pathogenic link between Helicobacter pylori infection and atherosclerosis

Authors

Francesco Franceschi, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Antonia R. Sepulveda, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Antonio Gasbarrini, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Paolo Pola, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Nicolò Gentiloni Silveri, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Giovanni Gasbarrini, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
David Y. Graham, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Robert M. Genta, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-23-2002

Journal

Circulation

Volume

106

Issue

4

DOI

10.1161/01.CIR.0000024100.90140.19

Keywords

Antibodies; Atherosclerosis; Infection

Abstract

Background - Helicobacter pylori-CagA positive strains have been shown to be associated with atherosclerosis. However, the pathogenesis is still undetermined. The aim of this study was to determine whether anti-CagA antibodies cross-react with antigens of normal and atherosclerotic arteries. Methods and Results - Eight umbilical cord sections, 14 atherosclerotic artery sections, and 10 gastrointestinal tract sections were examined by immunohistochemistry using polyclonal anti-CagA antibodies. Five atherosclerotic and 3 normal artery samples were also lysed in ice-cold lysis buffer containing protease inhibitors and were immunoprecipitated using the same antibodies. Anti-CagA antibodies reacted with cytoplasm and nuclei of smooth muscle cells in umbilical cord and atherosclerotic vessel sections, cytoplasm of fibroblasts-like cells in intimal atherosclerotic plaques, and the cell membranes of endothelial cells. Anti-CagA antibodies also specifically immunoprecipitated 2 high molecular weight antigens of 160 and 180 kDa from both normal and atherosclerotic artery lysates. Conclusions - Anti-CagA antibodies cross-react with antigens of both normal and atherosclerotic blood vessels. We speculate that the binding of anti-CagA antibodies to those antigens in injured arteries could influence the progression of atherosclerosis in CagA-positive H pylori-infected patients.

APA Citation

Franceschi, F., Sepulveda, A., Gasbarrini, A., Pola, P., Silveri, N., Gasbarrini, G., Graham, D., & Genta, R. (2002). Cross-reactivity of anti-CagA antibodies with vascular wall antigens: Possible pathogenic link between Helicobacter pylori infection and atherosclerosis. Circulation, 106 (4). http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000024100.90140.19