Helicobacter pylori Vacuolating Cytotoxin A Modulates the Host Immune System

Helicobacter pylori persistently infects ~50% of humans worldwide and remains the greatest risk factor for gastric cancer development. An important H. pylori cytotoxin, VacA, is known to disrupt host immune cell functions and elevate cancer risk. This research showed that VacA impairs the activity of specific immune cells critical for infection and cancer control, dysregulates the expression of novel cancer immunotherapy targets, and hijacks host cell vesicles to deliver toxin beyond the stomach. Such knowledge could assist in the development of preventative strategies or targeted therapies to mitigate the long-term effects of H. pylori infection on human health.