Increased Production of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Helicobacter pylori Infection that Stimulates Gastric Cancer Stem Cells

Background and aim: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an incriminated pathogen causing diseases in both animals and humans and considered a zoonotic pathogen. H. pylori infection is considered a cause of gastric cancer, which rests a significant health care challenge. This study analyzes the expression pattern of matrix metalloprotein 2 (MMP-2) in patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis and the effect of H. pylori on gastric cancer stem cells, as well as study the role of helicon bacteriosis in dog in transmission of H. pylori infection to human. Materials and methods: Fifty-five of each sample (gastric biopsy, blood and stool) were collected from patients suffering from dyspepsia, chronic vomiting and perforated peptic ulcers and also from apparent healthy dogs. The investigation detected H. pylori by serological and histopathological examination. Biopsies were stored in physiological saline for identification of H. pylori by conventional time PCR. MMP-2 and Gastric cancer stem cells were then identified by immunohistochemistry. Results: Serological identification for H. pylori Antigen and Antibodies revealed (63% human, 50% dogs) and (87% human, 90% dogs) respectively were positive. Genotyping of H. pylori based on 16S rRNA gene showed 54.5% of human and 35% of dogs were positive. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong expression of CD44 in H. pylori- associated gastric cancer cases, MMP-2 expression was observed in all neoplastic lesions associated with H. pylori infection. Conclusion: H. pylori infection affects gastric mucosa and induces changes in gastric stem cells altering their differentiation and increased expression of MMP’s and CD44with a resultant potentiation of oncogenic alteration. In addition the up-regulation of both markers could be an instrumental to interpret the origination of gastric cancer.