Eradication of Helicobacter pylori increases ghrelin mRNA expression in the gastric mucosa.
It has been suggested that Helicobacter pylori eradication may influence production of some peptides in the stomach, which can affect appetite. This hypothesis is controversial. To verify the hypothesis, we conducted this randomized controlled trial using H. pylori infected subjects without any gastrointestinal symptoms. The treatment group received triple H. pylori eradication therapy for 7 days and the control group received no medication. We measured ghrelin, obestatin and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA levels in endoscopic biopsy specimens and the changes from baseline to follow-up. The plasma active n-octanoyl ghrelin and obestatin levels were measured in both groups. The ghrelin/obestatin ratios in plasma and gastric mRNA expression were calculated at baseline and follow-up. Ghrelin mRNA expression in the fundic mucosa after H. pylori eradication increased significantly compared to the control group (4.47+/-2.14 vs. 1.79+/-0.96, P=0.009), independent of inflammatory changes. However, obestatin mRNA expression decreased in the antral mucosa (-0.57+/-1.06 vs. 0.41+/-0.72, P=0.028). The treatment group showed a marginal increase (P=0.060) in plasma ghrelin/obestatin ratio. The TNF-alpha mRNA expression also decreased significantly with treatment. This randomized controlled trial demonstrates that H. pylori eradication increases ghrelin mRNA expression, independent of inflammatory cell changes.
Lee
Eon Sook
ES
Department of Family Medicine, Center for Health Promotion and Clinical Research Center, Ilsan-Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Goyang, Korea.
Yoon
Yeong Sook
YS
Park
Cheol-Young
CY
Kim
Han-Seong
HS
Um
Tae Hyun
TH
Baik
Hyun Wook
HW
Jang
Eun Jeong
EJ
Lee
Sangyeoup
S
Park
Hee Soon
HS
Oh
Sang Woo
SW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054439:Ghrelin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha