Assessment of systemic matrix metalloproteinase and their regulator response in children with Helicobacter pylori gastritis.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori causes gastritis and is the most important risk factor of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. In chronic adulthood H. pylori infection some matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are proteolytic metalloendopeptidases regulated by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), are upregulated. Our aim was to determine circulating levels of MMPs and their regulators TIMP-1, human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in childhood H. pylori infection.


METHODS
Twenty-six H. pylori positive and 34 H. pylori negative children whose H. pylori status was verified by histological examination of gastric biopsies were included. Serum samples were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Significantly decreased serum levels of TIMP-1 were detected in H. pylori-infected children (median, 97.50 ng/mL) as compared to H. pylori-negative children (median, 118.5 ng/mL, p = 0.003). However, there were no significant differences in serum levels of MMP-2, -7, -8, -9, and their regulators HNE and MPO between H. pylori-positive and -negative children.


CONCLUSIONS
Differing from the recent findings in adulthood H. pylori infection, only circulating TIMP-1 levels were significantly different between H. pylori-positive and -negative children. Whether this reflects the first sign of a proteolytic cascade later leading to increased levels of MMPs remains to be shown.
Rautelin
Hilpi
H
Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Bacteriology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden. hilpi.rautelin@medsci.uu.se
Tervahartiala
Taina
T
Lauhio
Anneli
A
Sorsa
Timo
T
Kolho
Kaija-Leena
KL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases