Immune evasion strategies used by Helicobacter pylori

Figure 1 Helicobacter pylori uses gastric epithelial cells as a mediator to inhibit T cell function. Upon binding to an unknown receptor on GEC Helicobacter pylori translocate a hypothetical protein, which causes induction of B7-H1 on GEC. Induction of T cell co-inhibitory molecule B7-H1 further inhibits CD4⁺ T cell proliferation and effector function. It also facilitates induction of T_reg cells from naïve CD4⁺ T cells. This mechanism helps to establish a chronic infection.