Vitamin C Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin C, including details on benefits, dosage, supplements, information.

The effect of ascorbic acid on Helicobacter pylori induced cyclooxygenase 2 expression and prostaglandin E2 production by gastric epithelial cells in vitro.

Smith GV, Farthing MJ

Department of Adult and Paediatric Gastroenterology, St Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Turner Street, London E1 2AD, UK.

BACKGROUND: Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is induced by the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) on the gastric mucosa as part of the inflammatory response; this results in the synthesis of prostaglandins that amplify the local inflammatory response. The presence of H. pylori inhibits the secretion of ascorbate into the gastric lumen. Interestingly, ascorbate inhibits the growth of H. pylori and low dietary levels are associated with an increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma. We therefore investigated the effect of ascorbate on H. pylori mediated COX-2 induction and prostaglandin production in vitro. METHODS: H. pylori was cocultured with gastric epithelial cells in the presence of ascorbate at physiological concentrations. The expression of COX-2 was assessed by Western blotting and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) was assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: Ascorbate inhibited gastric cell PGE(2) synthesis but not in COX-2 expression in response to H. pylori. In the absence of the organism, ascorbate also reduced PGE(2) expression in cells that constitutively express COX-2, again with no reduction of COX-2 protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: Physiological concentrations of ascorbate inhibit PGE(2) but not COX-2 expression in response to H. pylori in gastric epithelial cells.

Published 4 February 2005 in Helicobacter, 10(1): 83-9.
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