Autophagy mediates ER stress and inflammation in Helicobacter pylori-related gastric cancer

• Published in: Gut microbes Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 2015238
• Main Authors: Mommersteeg, M.C., Simovic, I., Yu, B., van Nieuwenburg, S.A.V., Bruno, I, M.J., Doukas, M., Kuipers, E.J., Spaander, M.C.W., Peppelenbosch, M.P., Castaño-Rodríguez, N., Fuhler, G.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.01.2022; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; ATG16L1; atrophic gastritis; Australia; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Proteins - genetics; Autophagy-Related Proteins - metabolism; Cohort Studies; Disease Progression; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; ER stress; Female; gastric cancer; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Helicobacter Infections - genetics; Helicobacter Infections - metabolism; Helicobacter Infections - microbiology; Helicobacter Infections - physiopathology; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - physiology; Humans; inflammation; Intestinal metaplasia; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Research Paper; Stomach Neoplasms - genetics; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - microbiology; Stomach Neoplasms - physiopathology; Australia; Netherlands; autophagy; Helicobacter pylori; gastric cancer; ATG16L1; inflammation; Intestinal metaplasia; ER stress; atrophic gastritis
• ISSN: 1949-0976; 1949-0984; 1949-0984
• DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.2015238

Autophagy is a cellular degradation mechanism, which is triggered by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the autophagy gene ATG16L1 (rs2241880, G-allele) has been shown to dysregulate autophagy and increase intestinal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Here, we investigate the role of this SNP in H. pylori-mediated gastric carcinogenesis and its molecular pathways. ATG16L1 rs2241880 was genotyped in subjects from different ethnic cohorts (Dutch and Australian) presenting with gastric (pre)malignant lesions of various severity. Expression of GRP78 (a marker for ER stress) was assessed in gastric tissues. The effect of ATG16L1 rs2241880 on H. pylori-mediated ER stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine induction was investigated in organoids and CRISPR/Cas9 modified cell lines. Development of gastric cancer was associated with the ATG16L1 rs2241880 G-allele. Intestinal metaplastic cells in gastric tissue of patients showed increased levels of ER-stress. In vitro models showed that H. pylori increases autophagy while reducing ER stress, which appeared partly mediated by the ATG16L1 rs2241880 genotype. H. pylori-induced IL-8 production was increased while TNF-α production was decreased, in cells homozygous for the G-allele. The ATG16L1 rs2241880 G-allele is associated with progression of gastric premalignant lesions and cancer. Modulation of H. pylori-induced ER stress pathways and pro-inflammatory mediators by ATG16L1 rs2441880 may underlie this increased risk.