Arrestin domain containing 3 promotes Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis by regulating protease-activated receptor 1

Arrestin domain containing 3 (ARRDC3) represents a newly discovered α-arrestin involved in obesity, inflammation and cancer. Here we demonstrated a pro-inflammation role of ARRDC3 in H. pylori-associated gastritis. Increased ARRDC3 was detected in gastric mucosa of patients and mice infected with H. pylori. ARRDC3 in gastric epithelial cells (GECs) was induced by H. pylori, regulated by ERK and PI3K-AKT pathways in a cagA-dependent manner. Human gastric ARRDC3 correlated with the severity of gastritis, and mouse ARRDC3 from non-BM-derived cells promoted gastric inflammation. This inflammation was characterized by the CXCR2-dependent influx of CD45+CD11b+Ly6C-Ly6G+ neutrophils, whose migration was induced via the ARRDC3-dependent production of CXCL2 by GECs. Importantly, gastric inflammation was attenuated in ARRDC3-/- mice but increased in protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1)-/- mice. Mechanistically, ARRDC3 in GECs directly interacted with PAR1 and negatively regulated PAR1 via ARRDC3-mediated lysosomal degradation, which abrogated the suppression of CXCL2 production and following neutrophil chemotaxis by PAR1, thereby contributing to the development of H. pylori-associated gastritis. This study identifies a novel regulatory network involving H. pylori, GECs, ARRDC3, PAR1, and neutrophils, which collectively exert a pro-inflammatory effect within gastric microenvironment. Efforts to inhibit this ARRDC3-dependent pathway may prove valuable strategies in treating of H. pylori-associated gastritis.

Keywords: Bacterial infections; Gastroenterology; Infectious disease.