Role of miRNA-146a and miRNA-125b in Helicobacter pylori
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is a common gastrointestinal pathogen associated with gastritis and peptic ulcers. The early detection of H. pylori-related gastritis is crucial to its effective management, especially in pediatric patients with dyspepsia. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the expression of miRNA-146a and miRNA-125b as potential indicators of H. pylori-associated gastritis in children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 70 H. pylori-positive children and 50 H. pylori-negative controls aged ≤18 years with recurrent abdominal pain who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The miRNA-146a and miRNA-125b expression levels in gastric biopsies were determined using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: H. pylori-positive children had significantly higher levels of miRNA-146a than H. pylori-negative children across all endoscopic findings (range, 2.2-2.7 vs. 1.07-1.2; P<0.001) and histologic grades of gastritis (range, 2.0-2.4 vs. 1.2-1.3; P<0.001). Conversely, the H. pylori-positive group showed consistently lower miRNA-125b levels across all parameters (range, 0.3-0.8 vs. 0.4-0.9; P<0.001). Both miRNAs differentiated H. pylori status with an area under the curve of >0.95. CONCLUSION: The altered expression of miRNA-146a and miRNA-125b in gastric biopsies of H. pylori-positive children suggests their potential role as molecular markers of H. pylori-associated gastritis.
Source: Korean Journal of Pediatrics
Authors: Nashwa Farouk Mohamed, Ola G.A. Behairy, Manal S. EL-Defrawy, Mona Mahmoud Elsayed, Naglaa F. Alhusseini
Institutions: Benha University, Shebin Teaching Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409017048