Genistein attenuated gastric inflammation and apoptosis in Helicobacter pylori-induced gastropathy in rats

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer diseases and cancer. Genistein (4′,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone), a tyrosine-specific-protein kinase inhibitor, has been shown to exert an anti-inflammatory property. The aim of this study was to examine the treatment effects of genistein and its mechanisms in rats with H. pylori infection. METHODS: Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (6 rats per group): (1) control group (Con); (2) H. pylori infected group (HP): the rats were inoculated with H. pylori (10(8−) 10(10) CFU/mL; 1 mL/rat.) for 3 consecutive days; and (3) HP + genistein group (HP + Gen): the rats were inoculated with H. pylori as above. Then, they were gavaged with genistein (16 mg/kg BW) for 14 days. Gastric tissue was used for the determination of nuclear factor (NF)-κB expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC), degree of apoptosis by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) reaction, and histopathology. Serum samples were used to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1). RESULTS: Rats in the HP group had significantly higher levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, NF-κB expression and apoptotic cells when compared with the Con group, and these markers significantly decreased in HP + Gen group when compared with the HP group. The histopathology of HP group showed moderate gastric inflammation and many HP colonization. Gastric pathology in HP + Gen group demonstrated the attenuation of inflammatory cell infiltration and H. pylori colonization. CONCLUSION: Genistein exerted its gastroprotective effects through the reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators, nuclear receptor NF-κB expression and gastric mucosal apoptosis in rats with H. pylori-induced gastropathy.