Effect of H. pylori and its eradication on gastric ghrelin secretion

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection and its eradication may influence plasma levels and gastric production of some peptides, which can affect appetite. Ghrelin, an orexigenic hormone, is primarily produced in and secreted from oxyntic mucosa of the stomach. Ghrelin has been demonstrated to play a central role in appetite, food intake and energy homeostasis. As ghrelin production in human is exclusively gastric origin, it is conceivable and not surprising that any injury to the gastric mucosa will affect plasma ghrelin concentrations. To verify this hypothesis, a total of 135 adult consecutive individuals with normal body mass index including 84 H. pylori-infected and 51 H. pylori-negative subjects were included in a randomized controlled trial. Gastric ghrelin mRNA expression levels were measured in endoscopic biopsy specimens in both groups before and after H. pylori eradication. Also, plasma active n-octanoyl ghrelin and obestatin levels and ghrelin/obestatin ratio were measured in both groups before and after H. pylori eradication. The treatment group (44/84) received triple H. pylori eradication therapy for 7 days and followed up for 6 months. In contrast to obestatin, plasma and gastric ghrelin mRNA expression levels were significantly lower in H. pylori-infected subjects. H. pylori eradication significantly reversed these changes. The decrease in plasma ghrelin concentration in H. pylori-positive subjects was accompanied by depletion of ghrelin mRNA expression. These findings suggest that H. pylori induced chronic gastritis impair gastric ghrelin production and consequently the decrease in plasma ghrelin concentration. © 2013 Academic Journals Inc.