Epidermal growth factor and prostaglandin E2 levels in Helicobacter pylori-positive gastric intraepithelial neoplasia

Unveiling the Potency of Gardenia Extract Against H. pylori: Insights from In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Gardenia jasminoides (G. jasminoides) could treat various inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of G. jasminoides fruit extract on gastric inflammation and protective mechanisms in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced gastritis. Experimental procedure: G. jasminoides fruit extract was prepared and analyzed for geniposide content. The inhibitory effect of the extract on H. pylori growth was investigated using the disk diffusion method. The in vitro anti-inflammatory property of the extract was evaluated using the erythrocyte membrane stabilization method. Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were inoculated with H. pylori (108-1010 colony-forming unit/mL) and divided into five groups. Each group was treated with various doses of the extract (98-395 mg/kg). The serum and stomach tissue of the rats were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The geniposide content in the dried extract was 8.12% ± 0.79% by dry weight. The inhibition zone was observed at the extract ≥ 1.97 mg/disk, and the extract presented anti-inflammatory potential. The H. pylori-inoculated rats had a significant increase in serum interleukin (IL)-17, IL-33, and gastric epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels and a significant decrease in serum prostaglandin E2 level (p < 0.05) in conjunction with the development of gastric inflammation on histopathology. The treatment of the extract could significantly decrease the serum IL-17, IL-33, and gastric EGF levels, significantly increase the serum PGE2 level (p < 0.05), and improve gastric histopathology. Thus, G. jasminoides fruit extract attenuated H. pylori-induced gastritis by inhibiting bacterial growth, reducing inflammation, and enhancing protective mechanisms.

Prognostic factors in the treatment of gastric mucosal atypical hyperplasia by endoscopic submucosal dissection

Background

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for precancerous lesions and early cancers of the stomach. However, there have been few studies on the factors associated with the recurrence of precancerous lesions after ESD.

Methods

To investigate the prognostic factors of gastric intraepithelial neoplasia, we retrospectively analyzed 115 patients who were treated with ESD between February 2018 and January 2020. Chi-square test and Fisher’s extract test were used to select factors for further investigation, and prognostic analysis was carried out with the Kaplan–Meier method and a Cox regression model.

Results

Platelet counts (P = 0.027) and albumin levels (P = 0.011) were both lower in patients with recurrence than in patients without recurrence of gastric mucosal atypical hyperplasia after ESD.

Conclusions

This study reveals that low platelet counts and albumin levels were probably unfavorable prognostic factors in mucosal atypical hyperplasia of the stomach.

Gastroprotective mechanism of modified lvdou gancao decoction on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in mice: Involvement of Nrf-2/HO-1/NF-κB signaling pathway

Modified Lvdou Gancao decoction (MLG), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been put into clinical use to treat the diseases of the digestive system for a long run, showing great faculty in gastric protection and anti-inflammatory, whereas its protective mechanisms have not been determined. The current study puts the focus on the protective effect and its possible mechanisms of MLG on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in mice. In addition to various gastric lesion parameters and histopathology analysis, the activities of a list of relevant indicators in gastric mucosa were explored including ALDH, ADH, MDA, T-SOD, GSH-Px, and MPO, and the mechanisms were clarified using RT-qPCR, ELISA Western Blot and immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that MLG treatment induced significant increment of ADH, ALDH, T-SOD, GSH-Px, NO, PGE2 and SS activities in gastric tissues, while MPO, MDA, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were on the decline, both in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to the model group, the mRNA expression of Nrf-2 and HO-1 in the MLG treated groups showed an upward trend while the NF-κB, TNFα, IL-1β and COX2 in the MLG treated groups had a downward trend simultaneously. Furthermore, the protein levels of p65, p-p65, IκBα, p-IκBα, iNOS, COX2 and p38 were inhibited, while Nrf2, HO-1, SOD1, SOD2 and eNOS were ramped up in MLG treatment groups. Immunofluorescence intensities of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the MLG treated groups were considerably enhanced, with p65 and IκBα diminished simultaneously, exhibiting similar trends to that of qPCR and western blot. To sum up, MLG could significantly ameliorate ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions in mice, which might be put down to the activation of alcohol metabolizing enzymes, attenuation of the oxidative damage and inflammatory response to maintain the gastric mucosa. The gastroprotective effect of MLG might be achieved through the diminution of damage factors and the enhancement of defensive factors involving NF-κB/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. We further confirmed that MLG has strong potential in preventing and treating ethanol-induced gastric lesions.

Role of the Outer Inflammatory Protein A/Cystine-Glutamate Transporter Pathway in Gastric Mucosal Injury Induced by Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of gastrointestinal diseases. However, the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal injury by H. pylori remains unclear. Exogenous glutamate supplementation protects against gastric mucosal injury caused by H. pylori. Previously, we showed that aspirin-induced gastric injury is associated with reduction in glutamate release by inhibition of cystine–glutamate transporter (xCT) activity. We hypothesized that the xCT pathway is involved in H. pylori-induced gastric mucosal injury. In this study, we tested the activity of xCT and evaluated the regulatory effect of outer inflammatory protein (Oip) A on xCT in H. pylori-induced gastric mucosal injury.