FIG. 6.

Decreased bcl-2 gene expression by the inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway, especially in cagA⁺ H. pylori strains. AGS gastric epithelial cells were infected with H. pylori cagA mutants (strains 28 and 45) or cagA⁺ strains (strains 44, 92, and 99) with or without pretreatment by PD98059 (20 μM). After 6 h of coculturing, total cellular RNA was extracted and RT-PCR was performed for bcl-2-related genes. PCR products were separated on a 2% NuSieve agarose gel and stained with ethidium bromide. Representative data of three separate experiments are shown.