Helicobacter pylori infection inhibits healing of the wounded duodenal epithelium in vitro.

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection causes duodenal ulcers, delays the healing of such ulcers, and is associated with ulcer recurrence. The pathogenic mechanisms involved in Hp-induced duodenal mucosal injury and delay in ulcer healing remain unclear. In this study we sought to investigate the possible pathogenic actions of Hp infection and vacuolating cytotoxin (Vac A) on duodenal epithelial wound healing, using an in vitro wound model consisting of excisionally scraped or eroded IEC-6 duodenal monolayers.