Inhibition of primary human T cell proliferation by Helicobacter pylori vacuolating toxin (VacA) is independent of VacA effects on IL-2 secretion.

ABSTRACT: Recent evidence indicates that the secreted Helicobacter pylori vacuolating toxin (VacA) inhibits the activation of T cells. VacA blocks IL-2 secretion in transformed T cell lines by suppressing the activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). In this study, we investigated the effects of VacA on primary human CD4(+) T cells. VacA inhibited the proliferation of primary human T cells activated through the T cell receptor (TCR) and CD28. VacA-treated Jurkat T cells secreted markedly diminished levels of IL-2 compared with untreated cells, whereas VacA-treated primary human T cells continued to secrete high levels of IL-2. Further experiments indicated that the VacA-induced inhibition of primary human T cell proliferation was not attributable to VacA effects on NFAT activation or

SUBMITTER: Sundrud MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC419674 | biostudies-literature | 2004 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature