Mechanism of Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Leading to Gastric Cancer Induced by Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a unipolar, microaerobic, multiflagellar, spiral-shaped Gram-negative bacterium that survives and colonizes human gastric mucosa. As a classⅠcarcinogen associated with gastric cancer, long-term stimulation of gastric mucosa by Hp can cause atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. It has been reported that Hp can cause epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in gastric epithelial cells, thereby inducing gastric cancer. We review the mechanism of Hp-induced EMT in gastric epithelial cells, in order to provide new insights for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of gastric cancer.

Keywords

• helicobacter pylori
• epithelial-mesenchymal transition
• gastric cancer
• cytotoxin-associated gene a
• mesenchymal stem cells