Helicobacter pylori-induced angiopoietin-like 4 promotes gastric bacterial colonization and gastritis

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is characterized as progressive processes of bacterial persistence and chronic gastritis with features of infiltration of mononuclear cells more than granulocytes in gastric mucosa. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is considered a double-edged sword in inflammation-associated diseases, but its function and clinical relevance in H. pylori-associated pathology is unknown. Here we demonstrate both pro-colonization and pro-inflammation roles of ANGPTL4 in H. pylori infection. Increased ANGPTL4 in the infected gastric mucosa was produced from gastric epithelial cells (GECs) synergistically induced by H. pylori and IL-17A in a cagA-dependent manner. Human gastric ANGPTL4 correlated with H. pylori colonization and the severity of gastritis, and mouse ANGPTL4 from non-bone marrow-derived cells promoted bacteria colonization and inflammation. Importantly, H. pylori colonization and inflammation were attenuated in Il17a-/-, Angptl4-/-, Il17a-/-Angptl4-/- mice. Mechanistically, ANGPTL4 bound to integrin aV (ITGAV) on GECs to suppress CXCL1 production by inhibiting ERK, leading to decreased gastric influx of neutrophils, thereby promoting H. pylori colonization; ANGPTL4 also bound to ITGAV on monocytes to promote CCL5 production by activating PI3K-AKT-NF-?B, resulting in increased gastric influx of regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs) via CCL5-CCR4-dependent migration. In turn, ANGPTL4 induced Treg proliferation through binding to ITGAV to activate PI3K-AKT-NF-?B, promoting H. pylori-associated gastritis. Overall, we propose a model in which ANGPTL4 collectively ensures H. pylori persistence and promotes gastritis. Efforts to inhibit ANGPTL4-associated pathway may prove valuable strategies in treating H. pylori infection. Overall design: To investigate the function of ANGPTL4 in gastric epithelial cells, AGS cells were stimulated with ANGPTL4, cANGPTL4 or nANGPTL4 (1 µg/ml) for 24 h