Role of nickel-regulated small RNA in modulation of Helicobacter pylori virulence factors

Figure 1 Nickel-regulated small RNA regulates the expression of cytotoxin associated antigen A depending on nickel availability. NikR: Nickel-responsive transcription factor; NikS: Nickel-regulated sRNA; CagA: Cytotoxin-associated gene A.

Figure 2 Simplified molecular mechanisms of cytotoxin associated antigen A mediated carcinogenesis. After the phosphorylation process, cytotoxin associated antigen A acts as a promiscuous scaffold or hub protein that simultaneously disturbs multiple host signaling pathways, involved in regulation of a large range of cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Moreover, cytotoxin associated antigen A is also able to induce NF-kB-mediated chronic inflammation. Ultimately, the disharmonic interaction between cytotoxin associated antigen A and host proteins leads to pre-cancerous cellular alterations. CagA: Cytotoxin-associated gene A; H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori; IL-8: Interleukin-8.