Epstein-barr virus /Helicobacter pylori coinfection and gastric cancer: the possible role of viral gene expression and shp1 methylation

Fatemeh Estaji; Bahram  Nasr Esfahani; Saeed Zibaee; Mohammad Hossein Sanei; Sharareh Moghim

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i6.11265

Fatemeh Estaji Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Bahram Nasr Esfahani Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Saeed Zibaee Department of Research and Development of Biological Products, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Hossein Sanei Department of Pathology, Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Sharareh Moghim Department of Pathology, Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i6.11265

Keywords: Epstein-barr virus/ Helicobacter pylori coinfection; Viral gene expression; SHP1 methylation; Gastric cancer

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Among the various factors involved in the development of gastric cancer (GC), infectious agents are one of the mostimportant causative inducers. This study aimed to investigate the possible role of EBV gene ex- pression on SHP1 methylation in co-infection with Helicobacter pylori in patients with GC.

Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples were obtained from 150 patients with gastrointestinal disorders. The presence of the H.pylori and EBV genome were examined by PCR. The expression level of viral gene transcripts and methylation status of the SHP1 cellular gene was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and methyl-specific PCR.

Results: EBV and H. pylori coinfection were reported in 5.6% of patients. The mean DNA viral load wassignificant in pa- tients coinfected with cagA-positive H. pylori (P= 0.02). The expression of BZLF1 and EBER was associated with GC. Also, the expression level of BZLF1in GC tissues was significantly higher in coinfection (P = 0.01). SHP1 methylation frequency was higher in the GC group than in the controlgroup (P = 0.04). The correlation between the methylation rate and the H. py- lori infection was highly significant (P<0.0001). The strongest positive correlationwas observed in GC specimens between SHP1 methylation and H. pylori cagA-positive strains (p= 0.003).

Conclusion: Our results suggested that cagA might involve in the elevation of EBV lytic gene expression and SHP1 methyl- ation, and the development ofgastric cancer. Understanding the mechanism of EBV H. pylori - cagA + coinfection, as well as host epigenetic changes, can play an important role in diagnosing and preventing gastric cancer.