Statin decreases Helicobacter pylori burden in macrophages by promoting autophagy

Wei Chih Liao, Mei Zi Huang, Michelle Lily Wang, Chun Jung Lin, Tzu Li Lu, Horng Ren Lo, Yi Jiun Pan, Yu Chen Sun, Min Chuan Kao, Hui Jing Lim, Chih Ho Lai*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, have been found to provide protective effects against several bacterial infectious diseases. Although the use of statins has been shown to enhance antimicrobial treated Helicobacter pylori eradication and reduce H. pylori-mediated inflammation, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In this study, in vitro and ex vivo macrophage models were established to investigate the molecular pathways involved in statin-mediated inhibition of H. pylori-induced inflammation. Our study showed that statin treatment resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in intracellular H. pylori burden in both RAW264.7 macrophage cells and murine peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEMs). Furthermore, statin yielded enhanced early endosome maturation and subsequent activation of the autophagy pathway, which promotes lysosomal fusion resulting in degradation of sequestered bacteria, and in turn attenuates interleukin (IL)-1β production. These results indicate that statin not only reduces cellular cholesterol but also decreases the H. pylori burden in macrophages by promoting autophagy, consequently alleviating H. pylori-induced inflammation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number203
JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Volume6
Issue numberJAN
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 01 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Liao, Huang, Wang, Lin, Lu, Lo, Pan, Sun, Kao, Lim and Lai.

Keywords

  • Autophagy
  • Cholesterol
  • HMG-CoA reductase
  • Helicobacter pylori
  • Statin

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