Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Telomere Length: Effect of Eradication Therapy

Aims: This study aimed to assess the relative telomere lengths (TLs) in gastric mucosa of patients infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) compared to H. pylori-negative controls and determine the effect of H. pylori eradication therapy on TL.

Place and Duration of Study: This is a seven months case- control study conducted in Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology & Immunology Departments, Benha University, Egypt.

Methodology: Relative TLs in gastric mucosa were analyzed by Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in 15 H. pylori -positive patients (Group I: 10 patients with gastric ulcer, Group II: 5 patient without gastric ulcer) and 10 H. pylori -negative controls (Group III). Relative TLs were re-evaluated in H. pylori-positive patients 4 weeks after H. pylori eradication therapy.

Results: Highly significant shortening (P<0.001) was observed in TLs in gastric mucosa of H. pylori – positive patients compared to H. pylori – negative controls. Highly significant elongation (P<0.001) was observed after H. pylori eradication therapy. This elongation was significant in both group I and II (P <0.001, 0.01).

Conclusion: H. pylori -positive patients had significantly shorter TLs than H. pylori negative controls. TLs were increased after H. pylori eradication therapy in all patients either with or without gastric ulceration and could be considered as one of preventable methods for gastric cancer.