Lower circulating levels of chemokine CXCL10 in Helicobacter pylori- infected patients with peptic ulcer: influence of the bacterial virulence factor CagA

Alterations in CXCL10 [a Th1 chemokine] expression have been associated with various diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum CXCL10 levels in H. pylori- infected patients with peptic ulcer [PU], H. pylori- infected asymptomatic [AS] subjects and healthy H. pylori-negative subjects, and also to determine its association with bacterial virulence factor cytotoxin-associated gene A [CagA]. Serum samples from 90 H. pylori infected patients with PU [70 were anti-CagA[+], 20 were anti-CagA[-]], 65 AS carriers [40 were anti-CagA[+], 25 were anti-CagA[-]] and 30 healthy H. pylori-negative subjects [as a control Group] were tested for concentrations of CXCL 10 by using the ELISA method. The mean serum levels of CXCL10 in PU patients [96.64 +/- 20.85 pg/mL] were significantly lower than those observed in AS subjects [162.16 +/- 53.31 pg/mL, P < 0.01] and the control group [193.93 +/- 42.14 pg/mL, P < 0.02]. In the PU group, the serum levels of CXCL10 in anti-CagA[+] subjects was significantly higher in comparison to anti-CagA[-] patients [P < 0.04]. These results showed that the mean concentrations of CXCL10 in H. pylori-infected-PU patients was lower than AS carriers and control group. In the PU group, the serum levels of CXCL10 were associated with bacterial factor CagA

Higher serum levels of rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies in helicobacter pylori-infected peptic ulcer patients

H. pylori infection has been associated with some autoimmune disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentrations of rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies in H. pylori-infected peptic ulcer patients, H. pylori-infected asymptomatic carriers and a healthy control group. A Total of 100 H. pylori-infected peptic ulcer patients, 65 asymptomatic carriers and 30 healthy H. pylori-negative subjects [as a control group] were enrolled into study. Serum samples of participants tested for the levels of rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies by use of ELISA. The mean serum levels of rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies in peptic ulcer group was significantly higher in comparison to the control group [p<0.05]. Although, the mean serum levels of rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies in the asymptomatic carriers group was higher than those in the control group, the difference was not statistically significant. No significant differences were observed between peptic ulcer patients and asymptomatic carriers groups regarding the mean serum levels of rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies. The mean serum levels of rheumatoid factor in men with peptic ulcer was significantly higher compared to the group of healthy men [p<0.05]. Although in female of peptic ulcer patients or asymptomatic carriers groups, the mean serum levels of rheumatoid factor was higher than that in healthy women, but the differences were not statistically significant. Also, no significant differences were observed between men and women with peptic ulcer, asymptomatic carriers control groups based on the serum levels of anti-nuclear antibodies. The results showed higher serum levels of rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies in H. pylori-infected patients with peptic ulcer disease which represent the H. pylori-related immune disturbance in these patients. Additional follow-up studies are necessary to clarify the clinical significance of these autoantibodies in patients with H. pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in South-East of Iran

It has been also reported that that H. pylori infection may be responsible for some endocrine disorders, such as autoimmune thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus and primary hyperparathyroidism. H. pylori which express cytotoxin-associated gene A [CagA] may be more virulent than those that do not. The aim was to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG and anti-CagA antibodies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [type 2 DM] and healthy individuals from Rafsanjan city [Iran]. A total of 100 patients with type 2 diabetes and 100 age-matched healthy individuals were enrolled to study. A blood sample was collected from each participant. The type 2 DM established according to the fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl. The sera were tested for the presence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies and antibody to CagA by use of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori antibodies in diabetic patients [76%] was similar to that observed in healthy subjects [75%]. The mean titer of anti-H. pylori IgG in healthy control group [131.63 +/- 11.68 U/ml] was significantly higher than diabetic group [54.43 +/- 4.50 U/ml; P<0.0001]. The prevalence of serum anti-CagA IgG antibodies was 78.9% in infected diabetic patients and 77.3% in healthy control group with mean titer of 75.02 +/- 4.54 U/ml and 84.34 +/- 5.85 U/ml, respectively. No significant differences were observed between diabetic and healthy control groups regarding the prevalence and the mean titer of anti-CagA IgG antibodies. In the diabetic group, the seropositive rate of anti-H. pylori IgG was higher in women as compared to men, but the difference was not statistically significant. These results show that H. pyloriseropositivity rate was similar in type 2 DM patients and non-diabetics control group. No association was also found between CagA-positive strains of H. pylori and type 2 DM

High serum levels of rheumatoid factor and anti-phosphatidylserine antibody in patients with ischemic heart disease

Immunopathological and inflammatory processes play important roles in the initiation and development of Ischemic Heart Disease [IHD]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of several autoantibodies including rheumatoid factor [RF], anti-nuclear antibodies [ANA], anti-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein [anti-Sm], anti-phosphatidylserine [anti-PS] and anti-cardiolipin [anti-CL] antibodies in patients with IHD. A total of 120 patients with IHD with acute myocardial infarction [AMI; n=60] or unstable angina [UA; n=60] and 60 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Serum samples of participants were tested for the ANA, anti-Sm, anti-PS and anti-CL antibodies by ELISA. Serum level of RF was measured by a turbidometric method. The mean serum levels of RF and anti-PS antibodies in AMI group and UA group were significantly higher than those observed in the control group [p<0.0001]. The mean serum levels of RF and anti-PS antibodies in AMI patients were significantly higher than the UA group [p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively]. The mean serum levels of RF in men with AMI or UA diseases were significantly higher as compared to healthy control men [p<0.0001 and p<0.003, respectively]. The differences of the serum levels of ANA, anti-Sm and anti-CL antibodies were not significant between AMI, UA and the control groups. There was no difference in the serum levels of RF, ANA, anti-Sm, anti-PS or anti-CL antibodies in patients with traditional risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes and smoking, and those without a certain risk factor. Higher serum levels of RF and anti-PS antibody in patients with IHD may be considered as independent risk factors for IHD