Colonization and immune responses in mice to Helicobacter pylori expressing different Lewis antigens

A mouse model was established to compare colonization by the H. pylori Sydney strain SS1 with several clinical isolates expressing different Lewis antigens on their surface. In addition, both humoral and cell mediated immune responses were determined for different H. pylori strains.

Mice were inoculated intragastrically separately with the Sydney strain as well as with five clinical isolates of H. pylori expressing different Lewis (Le) antigen phenotypes. Colonization of the mouse stomach by the bacteria was monitored from two to fourteen weeks post inoculation by four independent methods namely, urease, PCR (using CagA primers), bacterial culture and histology. Antibody titers and cellular immune responses were monitored by ELISA and antigen stimulation test respectively.

Different degrees of colonization were observed in C57, CD1 and Balb/c mice inoculated with H. pylori strain SS1 (Le(x), Le(y)) and clinical isolates UA948 (Le(a), Le(x)), UA861 (alpha-glucosyl polyLacNAc), UA1258 (Le(y)), UA802 (Le(y)) and UA1264 (no Le antigen) starting from week two post inoculation. All three mice strains mounted high immune responses against different H. pylori antigens. Treatment of mice with vancomycin prior to inoculation has no effect either on colonization of the stomach or the immune response of the mice. Histological evaluation established colonization after 10 weeks post inoculation but not gastritis.

Stomach of mice can be colonized consistently, with H. pylori strain SS1, and colonization was also achieved with all clinical isolates that were not mouse adapted. These strains could be detected more consistently by PCR in the early stages, then by culture only after 8 - 10 weeks. In our study, Lewis(x) expressing bacterial strain (UA948) failed to colonize Balb/c mice, whereas the Le(y) expressing strain (UA1258) did not colonize C57/BL6 mice.