Purpose: To investigate the role of HMGB1 and NLRP3 in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the relationship with TLR4 gene.

Methods: Wild type (WT) and TLR4 knockout (TLR4 KO) mice were used to construct H.pylori-infected gastritis models. The models were identified by 3 methods—H&E staining, Giemsa staining and Real-time qPCR for the detection of H. pylori Urease A gene expression. The mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) co-cultured with H.pylori-infected mouse pregastric cancer cells (MFC) were also used. The mRNA expressions of TLR4, HMGB1 and NLRP3 in mouse gastric tissue and BMM were detected by Real-time qPCR.

Results: The identification results showed that the models were successfully constructed. The Real-time qPCR results showed that the expressions of TLR4, HMGB1, and NLRP3 mRNA in the WT mice gastric tissues and the BMM were significantly increased under H. pylori infection conditions compared with those in the H. pylori non-infection group (P < 0.05). The expressions of HMGB1 and NLRP3 mRNA in the TLR4 KO mice gastric tissues and the BMM were also increased compared with those in the H. pylori non-infection group (P < 0.001). 

Conclusions: In vitro and in vivo results showed that H. pylori infection could promotes HMGB1 and NLRP3 mRNA expressions, which may not be related to TLR4.