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Molecular Mechanisms of Bismuth-containing Drugs Against Helicobacter pylori: a Further Update

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections cause various gastric diseases in humans, such as gastritis, peptic ulcerations, and even gastric cancer. Bismuth-based triple or quadruple therapies have been commonly recommended for the treatment of H. pylori infections. Up to now, the molecular mechanisms by which bismuth inhibits the growth of H. pylori are far from fully clear.

Recent Findings

The present concise review intends to cover the most recent reports and discoveries, especially in the past 10 years ever since our previous review on the inhibitory mechanism of bismuth-containing drugs against H. pylori. The proteome work and in vitro studies all supported that enzyme inhibition, attenuated ROS defense, disruption of the intracellular iron metabolism, and reduced bacterium-host cell adhesion are the principal mechanisms underlying the actions of bismuth against H. pylori.

Summary

The review presented here will help us to understand further the molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of metal-based drugs and stimulate further development of effective anti-bacterial drugs.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21771199).

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and The Laboratory of Metalomics, College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China

    Jiahui Liu, Xinhang Li, Yulin Zhu & Ruiguang Ge

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  1. Jiahui Liu
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  2. Xinhang Li
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Correspondence to Ruiguang Ge.

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Liu, J., Li, X., Zhu, Y. et al. Molecular Mechanisms of Bismuth-containing Drugs Against Helicobacter pylori: a Further Update. Curr Pharmacol Rep 9, 59–65 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40495-022-00305-9

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