Work

RPF2 regulates the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND RPF2 is a crucial factor in ribosome synthesis, which has been linked to the development of several cancers. However, the mechanism of RPF2 in gastric carcinogenesis is unclear. AIM To explore the role and mechanism of RPF2 in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) infection. METHODS GES-1 was co-cultured with H. pylori in vitro to detect changes in the expression of RPF2 . Overexpression and silencing of RPF2 were performed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) and Western blot (WB) were used to determine mRNA and protein expression of RPF2 , protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related factors MMP2 and MMP9 ; cell counting kit 8 and wound healing assays were utilized to evaluate cell viability and migratory capacity; q-PCR, WB, and immunohistochemistry were employed to establish RPF2 expression in cancer tissues. RESULTS H. pylori facilitated RPF2 expression and triggered AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Functional experiments showed that RPF2 overexpression could promote a series of malignant transformations such as cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion, and further enhance AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activation. RPF2 knockdown had the opposite effect. In addition, RPF2 expression was higher in gastric cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues. CONCLUSION RPF2 plays a significant role in the pathogenic mechanism of H. pylori infection and may be useful in the detection and management of gastric cancer caused by H. pylori infection.

Source: World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology

DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i6.105664