Muc1 Cell Surface Mucin Attenuates Epithelial Inflammation in Response to a Common Mucosal Pathogen

Helicobacter pylori infection of the gastric mucosa causes an active-chronic inflammation that is strongly linked to the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers and stomach cancer. However, greater than 80% of individuals infected with H. pylori are asymptomatic beyond histologic inflammation, and it is unknown what factors influence the incidence and character of bacterial-associated gastritis and related disorders. Because previous studies demonstrated that the Muc1 epithelial glycoprotein inhibited inflammation during acute lung infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we asked whether Muc1 might also counter-regulate gastric inflammation in response to H. pylori infection. Muc1(-/-) mice displayed increased bacterial colonization of the stomach and greater TNF-alpha and keratinocyte chemoattractant transcript levels compared with Muc1(+/+) mice after experimental H. pylori infection. Knockdown of Muc1 expression in AGS human gastric epithelial cells by RNA interference was associated with increased phosphorylation of I kappa B alpha, augmented activation and nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B, and enhanced production of interleulin-8 compared with Muc1-expressing cells. Conversely, Muc1 overexpression was correlated with decreased NF-kappa B activation, reduced interleulin-8 production, and diminished I kappa B kinase beta (IKK beta)/IKK gamma coimmunoprecipitation compared with cells expressing Muc1 endogenously. Cotransfection of AGS cells with Muc1 plus IKK beta, but not a catalytically inactive IKK beta mutant, reversed the Muc1 inhibitory effect. Finally, Muc1 formed a coimmunoprecipitation complex with IKK gamma but not with IKK beta. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Muc1 binds to IKK gamma, thereby inhibiting formation of the catalytically active IKK complex and blocking the ability of H. pylori to stimulate I kappa B alpha phosphorylation, NF-kappa B activation, and downstream inflammatory responses.