AUTHOR=Beccaceci Giulia , Sigal Michael 

TITLE=Unwelcome guests – the role of gland-associated Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric carcinogenesis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2023.1171003

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2023.1171003

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Helicobacter pylori</italic> (<italic>H. pylori</italic>) are Gram-negative bacteria that cause chronic gastritis and are considered the main risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. <italic>H. pylori</italic> have evolved to survive the harsh luminal environment of the stomach and are known to cause damage and signaling aberrations in gastric epithelial cells, which can result in premalignant and malignant pathology. As well as colonizing the gastric mucus and surface epithelial cells, a subpopulation of <italic>H. pylori</italic> can invade deep into the gastric glands and directly interact with progenitor and stem cells. Gland colonization therefore bears the potential to cause direct injury to long-lived cells. Moreover, this bacterial subpopulation triggers a series of host responses that cause an enhanced proliferation of stem cells. Here, we review recent insights into how gastric gland colonization by <italic>H. pylori</italic> is established, the resulting pro-carcinogenic epithelial signaling alterations, as well as new insights into stem cell responses to infection. Together these point towards a critical role of gland-associated <italic>H. pylori</italic> in the development of gastric cancer.</p>