Effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on human pancreatic cancer cell line.

Helicobacter species has been shown to be commonly present in extragastric human organs by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To date, a few studies have reported that infection by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was a risk factor for pancreatic malignancies, but this was not investigated very well. Therefore, we examined effects of H. pylori infection on human pancreatic cancer cells.Interleukin (IL)-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretions by human pancreatic cancer cells which were co-cultured with H. pylori, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We then examined whether activities of proliferation factors nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), activator protein-1 (AP-1), and serum response element (SRE) of human pancreatic cancer cells were increased by H. pylori infection. Furthermore, we examined cytotoxin-associated gene A protein (CagA) secretion into pancreatic cancer cells using Western blotting.IL-8 and VEGF secretion levels and activities of proliferation factors NF-kappaB, AP-1, and SRE of human pancreatic cells increased by H. pylori infection. Moreover, CagA secretion into pancreatic cancer cells was confirmed by Western blotting.Helicobacter pylori infection of human pancreatic cells may increase malignant potential of pancreatic cells, which seems to involve the same mechanisms as in gastric cancer cells.