The vacuolating cytotoxin ofHelicobacter pylori

摘要

SummaryHelicobacter pylori, the causative agent of chronic superficial gastritis and duodenal ulcer disease in humans, produces a unique cytotoxin (VacA) that induces cytoplasmic vacuolation in eukaryotic cells. The structural organization and processing of the vacuolating cytotoxin are characteristic of a family of proteins exemplified byNeisseria gonorrhoeaeIgA protease. Although only 50 ofH. pyloriisolates produce detectable cytotoxin activityin vitro, vacAhomologues are present in virtually all isolates. Several families ofvacAalleles have been identified, and there is a strong correlation between presence of specificvacAgenotypes, cytotoxin activity, and peptic ulceration. Experiments in a mouse model ofH. pylori‐inducedgastric damage indicate that the cytotoxin plays an important role in inducing gastric epithelial necrosi