Helicobacter pylori infection, serum pepsinogens as markers of atrophic gastritis, and leukocyte telomere length: a population-based study

Lactic acid bacteria target NF-κB signaling to alleviate gastric inflammation

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the resulting gastric inflammation are major contributors to gastric cancer development. Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus, are promising for their anti-inflammatory potential, yet their exact mechanisms in inhibiting H. pylori-induced inflammation are unclear. In our previous study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZJ316 (L. plantarum ZJ316) demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory effects against H. pylori infection in vivo, but its precise mechanisms were not fully understood. Here, we aimed to investigate how L. plantarum ZJ316 inhibits the inflammatory response to H. pylori infection. Our results demonstrated that L. plantarum ZJ316 effectively reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in H. pylori-infected AGS cells. Mechanistically, L. plantarum ZJ316 inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway by preventing the degradation of IκBα, suppressing p65 phosphorylation, and blocking the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated p65. Treatment with the NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082 further decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels, confirming the inhibitory effect of L. plantarum ZJ316 on the NF-κB pathway. In H. pylori-infected mice, oral administration of L. plantarum ZJ316 significantly alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration, reduced TNF-α and pepsinogen II (PGII) levels, and increased interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in serum. A comparative metagenomic analysis of the gastric microbiota revealed a decrease in Prevotella and Desulfovibrio, alongside an increase in Ligilactobacillus and Akkermansia, supporting the protective effects of L. plantarum ZJ316 and correlating with their decreased inflammatory response. In summary, administration of L. plantarum ZJ316 demonstrated robust anti-inflammatory effects against H. pylori infection by suppressing NF-κB signaling and promoting favorable changes in the gastric microbiota composition. Therefore, L. plantarum ZJ316 holds promise as a novel functional food for protecting the body against H. pylori infection.

Association of leukocyte telomere length with the risk of digestive diseases: A large-scale cohort study

BACKGROUND

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shortening, a biomarker of telomere attrition, has been linked to multiple diseases. However, the relationship between LTL and digestive diseases remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the association between LTL and the risk of digestive diseases.

METHODS

A cohort analysis of over 500,000 participants from the UK Biobank (UKB) between 2006 and 2021 was conducted to estimate the associations of LTL with more than 90 common digestive diseases. LTL was quantified using multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and cases of each disease were determined according to inpatient and primary care data. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of LTL with the risk of digestive diseases. Furthermore, such associations were also evaluated after stratification by sex and ethnicity.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up time of 11.8 years, over 20 International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision ( ICD-10 ) codes were showed to be associated with telomere attrition. LTL shortening is associated with an increased risk of several digestive diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (K21: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.30, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.19-1.42), esophageal ulcer (K221: HR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.22-2.71), Barrett's esophagus (K227: HR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.14-2.17), gastritis (K29: HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.26-1.52), duodenal ulcer (K26: HR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.14-2.12), functional dyspepsia (K30X: HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06-1.69), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (K760: HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09-1.78), liver cirrhosis (K74: HR = 4.73, 95% CI: 3.27-6.85), cholangitis (K830: HR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.30-5.00), and hernia (K43: HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.17-1.94; K44: HR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.17-1.42). The risk of rectal polyps (K621: HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63-0.92) decreased per unit shortening of LTL.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that LTL shortening is associated with an increased risk of most digestive diseases except for rectal polyps. These findings may provide some clues for understanding the pathogenesis of digestive diseases.

Association Between Adverse Early Life Factors and Telomere Length in Middle and Late Life

Background and Objectives

Telomere length (TL) has been acknowledged as biomarker of biological aging. Numerous investigations have examined associations between individual early life factors and leukocyte TL; however, the findings were far from consistent.

Research Design and Methods

We evaluated the relationship between individual and combined early life factors and leukocytes TL in middle and late life using data from the UK Biobank. The early life factors (eg, maternal smoking, breastfeeding, birth weight, and comparative body size and height to peers at age 10) were measured. The regression coefficients (β) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied to assess the link of the early life factors and TL in adulthood. Flexible parametric survival models incorporated age to calculate the relationship between early life factors and life expectancy.

Results

Exposure to maternal smoking, lack of breastfeeding, low birth weight, and shorter height compared to peers at age 10 were identified to be associated with shorter TL in middle and older age according to the large population-based study with 197 504 participants. Individuals who experienced more than 3 adverse early life factors had the shortest TL in middle and late life (β = -0.053; 95% CI = -0.069 to -0.038; p < .0001), as well as an average of 0.54 years of life loss at the age of 45 and 0.49 years of life loss at the age of 60, compared to those who were not exposed to any early life risk factors.

Discussion and Implications

Early life factors including maternal smoking, non-breastfed, low birth weight, and shorter height compared to peers at age 10 were associated with shorter TL in later life. In addition, an increased number of the aforementioned factors was associated with a greater likelihood of shorter TL in adulthood, as well as a reduced life expectancy.

Infection and telomere length: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Telomeres are a measure of cellular ageing with potential links to diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Studies have shown that some infections may be associated with telomere shortening, but whether an association exists across all types and severities of infections and in which populations is unclear. Therefore we aim to collate available evidence to enable comparison and to inform future research in this field.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will search for studies involving telomere length and infection in various databases including MEDLINE (Ovid interface), EMBASE (Ovid interface), Web of Science, Scopus, Global Health and the Cochrane Library. For grey literature, the British Library of electronic theses databases (ETHOS) will be explored. We will not limit by study type, geographical location, infection type or method of outcome measurement. Two researchers will independently carry out study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment using the ROB2 and ROBINS-E tools. The overall quality of the studies will be determined using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. We will also evaluate study heterogeneity with respect to study design, exposure and outcome measurement and if there is sufficient homogeneity, a meta-analysis will be conducted. Otherwise, we will provide a narrative synthesis with results grouped by exposure category and study design.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The present study does not require ethical approval. Results will be disseminated via publishing in a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42023444854.

The relation between Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G seropositivity and leukocyte telomere length in US adults from NHANES 1999-2000

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) immunoglobulin G (IgG) seropositivity is prevalent but its relation with leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a cellular aging biomarker, is unclear.

METHODS

Among 3,472 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycle 1999-2000, LTL was measured with the quantitative polymerase chain reaction. H pylori IgG was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and defined as seropositivity with an immune status ratio score > 0.9. We used linear regression models to examine the relation of H pylori IgG seropositivity with continuous LTL and logistic regression for the relation with short LTL (<10th percentile of the population distribution) adjusting for potential confounders. We stratified the analyses by a priori selected variables.

RESULTS

Population prevalence of H pylori IgG seropositivity was 31.5% in the overall population with higher prevalence found in those with older age, other races than non-Hispanic whites, lower education, and being born out of the United States. Continuous LTL was non-significantly shorter in those with H Pylori IgG seropositivity versus seronegativity (mean difference = -40.3 bp, 95% CI: -112.4, 31.9). This difference was not significant after adjusting for potential confounders nor stratifying by potential effect modifiers. H Pylori IgG seropositivity was significantly associated with short LTL among the elderly (55-75 years, adjusted OR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.17, 7.99), but not in the overall population (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.81-2.02).

CONCLUSION

H Pylori IgG seropositivity was not associated with continuous LTL in the general population but may be associated with an excessively short LTL in the elderly.