Relevance Of Ghrelin Expression To Children With Helicobacter Pylori Infection

Objective: This study aimed to study the relevance of Ghrelin to children with Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: 50 children with H. Pylori infection were divided into the anorexia group and the non-anorexia (n=25, each) group according to the clinical manifestation. The changes of the expression of Ghrelin mRNA in gastric mucosa were measured by RT-PCR in the two groups before and after the treatment of H. Pylori. At the same time, the cagA/vacA of H. Pylori isolated from 50 children was further characterized by PCR to determine its genotype. Results: The expression of Ghrelin mRNA in gastric mucosa in anorexia children was significantly increased when compared with that of non-anorexia (P < 0.01). The expression of Ghrelin mRNA increased after the treatment of H. Pylori (P < 0.05). The symptoms of anorexia children were improved who took food better and gained weight dramatically. The strains of Helicobacter pylori isolated from anorexia and non-anorexia children were type I. The positive rate cagA m1 in the anorexia group was higher than that in the non-anorexia group. More s1/m1 genotypes was found in anorexia group while more s1/m2 genotype was found in non-anorexia group. Conclusions: The expression level of Ghrelin mRNA was decreased in anorexia children with H. Pylori infection and increased after the eradication of H. Pylori. H. Pylori may lead to anorexia through influencing the Ghrelin secretion. Thus, Ghrelin may be the key factor for anorexia children with H. Pylori. Furthermore, different genotypes (vacA s1/m1) may account for the changes of Ghrelin in anorexia children with H. Pylori.