Assessment of Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin-associated Gene A (Cag A) protein and its association with ferritin and vitamin B12 deficiencies among adult healthy asymptomatic residents in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Om Kolthoom M. Weisy,
Reena A. Kedia,
Ibrahim Mahmoud,
Raed O. Abu Odeh,
Bashair M. Mussa,
Salah Abusnana,
Sameh S.M. Soliman,
Jibran Sualeh Muhammad,
Mohamad Hamad,
Rose Ghemrawi,
Ghalia Khoder
Affiliations
Om Kolthoom M. Weisy
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceuticals Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Reena A. Kedia
Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Ibrahim Mahmoud
Department of Family and Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Raed O. Abu Odeh
Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Bashair M. Mussa
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Salah Abusnana
Diabetes and Endocrinology Department, University Hospital Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Clinical Science Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Sameh S.M. Soliman
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Jibran Sualeh Muhammad
Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Mohamad Hamad
Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Rose Ghemrawi
College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Ghalia Khoder
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceuticals Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Corresponding author. Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceuticals Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Introduction: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) serves as an effective epidemiological site for assessing Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection due to its diverse population. However, comprehensive studies on the prevalence of H. pylori in the UAE are notably scarce. In depth prevalence studies are needed as a preventive measure against gastric cancer and other emerging extra gastric diseases associated with H. pylori infection. Aim: This study aimed to assess H. pylori infection and its virulent oncoprotein, the Cytotoxin-Associated Gene (Cag A) and its association with ferritin and vitamin B12 deficiencies. Methods: The study was conducted on 1094 healthy asymptomatic volunteers residents in the Sharjah Emirate, UAE. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to assess H. pylori infection using H. pylori antibodies (IgG), and detection of CagA protein using Cag A antibody (IgG) in the human serum. Ferritin and vitamin B12 serum levels were assessed and correlated to H. pylori infection. Results: This study focuses mainly on the assessment of H. pylori and its virulent factor CagA, in relation to vitamin B12 and ferritin deficiencies. Remarkably, 49.6 % of the participants were detected positive for H. pylori, with over half of these cases involving CagA positive strains. Notably, among Emirati participants, 76.11 % of those with H. pylori infection were CagA positive. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between H. pylori, CagA level, and ferritin/vitamin B12 deficiencies. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of timely detection and eradication of H. pylori not only as a preventive strategy against gastric cancer but also as an effective strategy to rescue the adverse effects from ferritin and vitamin B12 deficiencies, thereby improving the overall health outcomes of individuals affected by H. pylori infection.
