Infection with the gastric bacterial pathogen
Helicobacter pylori
is typically contracted in early childhood and often persists for decades. The immunomodulatory properties of
H. pylori
that allow it to colonize humans persistently are believed to also account for
H. pylori
’s protective effects against allergic and chronic inflammatory diseases.
H. pylori
infection efficiently reprograms dendritic cells (DCs) toward a tolerogenic phenotype and induces regulatory T cells (Tregs) with highly suppressive activity in models of allergen-induced asthma. We show here that two
H. pylori
virulence determinants, the γ-glutamyl transpeptidase GGT and the vacuolating cytotoxin VacA, contribute critically and nonredundantly to
H. pylori
’s tolerizing effects on murine DCs in vitro and in vivo. The tolerance-promoting effects of both factors are independent of their described suppressive activity on T cells. Isogenic
H. pylori
mutants lacking either GGT or VacA are incapable of preventing LPS-induced DC maturation and fail to drive DC tolerization as assessed by induction of Treg properties in cocultured naive T cells. The Δ
ggt
and Δ
vacA
mutants colonize mice at significantly reduced levels, induce stronger T-helper 1 (Th1) and T-helper 17 (Th17) responses, and/or trigger more severe gastric pathology. Both factors promote the efficient induction of Tregs in vivo, and VacA is required to prevent allergen-induced asthma. The defects of the Δ
ggt
mutant in vitro and in vivo are phenocopied by pharmacological inhibition of the transpeptidase activity of GGT in all readouts. In conclusion, our results reveal the molecular players and mechanistic basis for
H. pylori
-induced immunomodulation, promoting persistent infection and conferring protection against allergic asthma.
