Helicobacter pylori and autoimmune diseases

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a widely prevalent microbe, with between 50 and 80% of the population infected worldwide. Clinically, infection with H. pylori is commonly associated with peptic ulcer disease, but many of those infected remain asymptomatic. H. pylori has evolved a number of means to affect the host immune response and has been implicated in many diseases mitigated by immune dysregulation, such as immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), atrophic gastritis, and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome, are the result of a dysregulated host immune system which targets otherwise healthy tissues. The exact etiology of autoimmune diseases is unclear, but it has long been suggested that exposure to certain environmental agents, such as viral and bacterial infection or chemical exposures, in genetically susceptible individuals may be the catalyst for the initiation of autoimmune processes. Because of its prevalence and ability to affect human immune function, many researchers have hypothesized that H. pylori might contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases. In this article, we review the available literature regarding the role of chronic H. pylori infection in various autoimmune disease states.

Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cell Deficiency in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

“…The exact cause of autoimmune diseases is unclear, but it has been recently proposed that several microorganisms may represent an important environmental factor that can influence autoimmune disease manifestation in genetically susceptible individuals (23,24). Furthermore, MAIT cells have been recently implicated to serve as regulatory and/or effector cells in patients with multiple sclerosis and murine model of arthritis (25,26).…”

Suppression of PAMPs, Pathogen-Associated Microbial Patterns, Induced Cytokine Synthesis of PBMC, Human Blood Mononuclear Cells, by Immunoglobulin Preparation

“…In general, Fc-fragment is a key moiety for inducing inflammatory response, F(ab')2 might be beneficial for the clinical use. From the view point of microbial infection and autoimmune disease, variety of mechanisms should be concerned in addition to the PAMPs mediated inflammatory responses [27,28]. Further analysis is needed for the precisely examine the whole mechanism of autoimmune disease and the effect of IVIg.…”

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Antibodies in Egyptians with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic purpura and in the General Egyptian Population: A Comparative Study

“…Icteric and turbid samples were not used (manufacturer's precautionary advice). A reference curve was drawn on a linear graph paper; using 5 anti H pylori calibrators supplied within the kit, to determine the concentration of H pylori IgM and IgG in unknown specimens (Hasni et al, 2011).…”

“…This pathogenicity involves stimulation of T helper one induced inflammation. Some studies document that H pylori infection down regulates the host's immune response and also some researchers suggest the contribution of H pylori to some autoimmune disease' development (Hasni et al, 2011). Multiple publications have attributed a role for H. pylori infection in causing a variety of extraintestinal manifestations (Sherman et al, 2005), (Wong et al, 2014), (Bruscky et al, 2014).…”