Biosynthesis, structure and biological function of cholesterol glucoside in Helicobacter pylori: A review

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) is a common pathogen, and about 50% of the world population have been infected with it, so the infection of H pylori has been an urgent public health problem worldwide. H pylori has evolved a variety of strategies to help itself colonize, adapt to the environment and proliferate. Cholesterol glucoside (CG), a characteristic substance in H pylori, is related to the membrane stability, morphology, inflammation induction and immune evasion of H pylori. Therefore, CG may be a new target to weaken the infection effect of H pylori. The biosynthesis process, structure and biological function of CG specific to H pylori, as well as anti-CG drugs are discussed and analyzed in this review, in order to explore whether the inhibition of CG synthesis can be an effective strategy to eradicate H pylori.

Figure 1.

Structure of cholesterol glucoside (CG). (A) cholesterol-α-D-glucopyranoside (αCG), (B) cholesteryl-6’-O-tetradecanoyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (αCAG), (C) cholesteryl-6’-O-phosphatidyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (αCPG), Lipid = C 14:0, C16:0, C 18:1, C 19:0.