Influence of helicobacter pylori infection and gastritis on ghrelin levels and its receptors expression.

Influence of helicobacter pylori infection and gastritis on ghrelin levels and its receptors expression.
Aisa Bahar,¹ Abbas Pakdel,^2,* Ahmadreza Bandegi,³ Majid Mirmohammadkhani,⁴ Ali Khaleghian,⁵
1. Department of Biochemistry and Hematology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
2. Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
3. Department of Biochemistry and Hematology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
5. Department of Biochemistry and Hematology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
Introduction: Recently it has been shown that the ghrelin axis plays an important role in preventing the progression of carcinogenesis processes. It seems that alterations in this axis can play an undeniable role in the occurrence and development of pathological conditions. Moreover, Changes in the components of this axis have been reported in various cancers, such as gastric cancer. As far as we know, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and its associated gastritis are the most important risk factors for non-cardia gastric cancer. So, identifying the molecular mechanism by which this infection progresses to cancer is crucial. Until today, some studies have shown that ghrelin levels changes in H. pylori infected patients. However, no study has examined the changes in Growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR1a) and GHSR1b in this patients.
Methods: In this study we enrolled 68 adult people, Individuals were classified into three groups based on two factors: H. pylori infection and Gastritis. Diagnosis of H. pylori infection was determined by RUT test and microscopic observation, also gastritis status was classified according to the updated Sydney System by pathologists. Total ghrelin levels was measured by ELISA Sandwich method using a commercially human ghrelin ELISA kit. The expression level of GHSR1a and GHSR1b mRNA was evaluated by using a real-time quantitative RT-PCR method.
Results: Out of the 68 subjects, 31, 28 and 9 subjects were H. pylori positive with gastritis, H. pylori negative with gastritis and H. pylori negative without gastritis respectively. Serum ghrelin levels was significantly lower in H. pylori positive with gastritis patients compared with both H. pylori negative with and without gastritis, (P value = 0.008, 0.01). GHSR1a mRNA expression was not different between groups, while GHSR1b expression was significantly higher in patients with H.pylori infection and gastritis.
Conclusion: Our results revealed that H. pylori infection and gastritis can affect the ghrelin axis, thereby this axis can be a new useful insight and potential clinical consequence in the gastric disorders.
Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Ghrelin, Gastritis, Body Mass Index,