HOTAIR and MEG3 expression is negatively associated with positive H. pylori status in gastric cancer patients

Differences in the expression level of lncRNAs in tumors compared to marginal non-tumor tissues at the mRNA level represented by a bar graph. Credit: 2022 Amini et al. Genes and cancer (2022). DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.219

A new research article has been published in Genes and cancer on February 10, 2022, titled “HOTAIR and MEG3 expression is negatively associated with positive H. pylori status in patients with gastric cancer”.

Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the main causes of gastric cancer (GC). Furthermore, lncRNAs play a crucial role in cancer pathobiology, including GC.

In this study, researchers Farnaz Amini, Mohammad Khalaj-Kondori, Amin Moqadami and Ali Rajabi from the University of Tabriz aimed to investigate the expression of MEG3 and HOTAIR in gastric cancer tissues and assess their association with H status. .pylori.

“Here, we assessed the expression of the lncRNAs MEG3 and HOTAIR in GC and analyzed their association with H. pylori status and other clinicopathologic characteristics of patients. In addition, their biomarker potency was assessed by the analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve,” the researchers said.

A hundred samples were obtained. Total RNA was extracted, cDNA was synthesized, and MEG3 and HOTAIR expression was assessed by qRT-PCR. The association of their expression with H. pylori status and other clinicopathologic features has been investigated. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of MEG3 and HOTAIR expression levels for discrimination of tumor and non-tumor samples were assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis.

“We observed upregulation of HOTAIR but downregulation of MEG3 in tumor compared to non-tumor tissues. We also found a significant negative association between their expression levels and positive status of H. pylori.”

However, only HOTAIR expression level was significantly associated with tumor size and stage (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that the expression levels of MEG3 and HOTAIR could discriminate GC tumor and non-tumor tissues. In conclusion, this study revealed a negative association between H. pylori infection and the expression of MEG3 and HOTAIR. The results suggest that the expression level of these lncRNAs could be considered as potential biomarkers for GC.

“MEG3 and HOTAIR expression were negatively associated with positive H. pylori status. MEG3 was downregulated but HOTAIR was upregulated in GC tissues. HOTAIR expression was associated with height and tumor stage. Additionally, the expression of MEG3 and HOTAIR could be considered as potential diagnostic biomarkers for GC,” the researchers conclude.

Provided by Impact Journals LLC