IRP1 and IRP2 relative expression changes in gastric cancer patients is related to Helicobacter pylori infection

Introduction Recently the biological association of iron to gastric cancer has attracted a considerable attention. H. pylori infection has a strong association with prevalence of iron deficiency and gastric cancer (GC). Iron metabolism is reprogramed in cancer cells in order to ensure tumor cell survival. For the same reason, iron metabolism pathways can be one of the possible targets for H. pylori. Objectives We evaluate the two iron regulatory proteins, IRP1 and IRP2 in GC patients and relation of their relative expression with clinic-pathological characteristics of disease and presence of H. pylori infection. Methods Thirtysix GC patients were involved in this research. Infection with H. pylori was confirmed by histology examination of specimens. Relative expression of IRP1 and IRP2 genes were estimated by quantitative real-time PCR. Pathological data include the tumor size, grade, lympho-vascular and perineural invasion and clinical stage of disease were recorded according to the pathology report. Results According to our finding, IRP1 relative expression was significantly higher (p value < 0.05) in GC patients contaminated with H. pylori (15.6 ± 5.9 fold) in comparison to those without infection (1.29 ± 0.6 fold). Relative expression of IRP1 is directly correlated with IRP2 expression (r= 373, p value= 0.025). IRP1 also up regulated in GC patients with family history of cancer. We didn’t find any relationship between IRPs relative expression and clinic-pathological characteristics of tumor. ConclusionBoth IRP1 and IRP2 expression levels are subject to change in GC tumor cells, although IRP2 changed more dramatically than IRP1. IRP1 probably is a target gene for H. pylori in order to supply its need to iron. Over expression of IRP2 may be a useful diagnostic biomarker in GC.

کلیدواژه ها:

IRP1 ، IRP2 ، Gastric cancer ، H. pylori.