Abstract

This association between H. pylori infection and systemic MMP-9 levels is still debated. In this study, possible systemic effects were examined using liver enzyme analysis, and the association between infection with H. pylori in a mouse model and serum MMP-9 concentration was evaluated. Ten BALB/c mice infected with H. pylori and five control mice were split into two groups. For three days, the infected group was orally administered H. pylori (10^8 CFU per day). Serum MMP-9 levels and hepatic function biomarkers (AST, ALT, ALP, and total bilirubin) were measured using ELISA four weeks after infection. Serum MMP-9 levels were considerably higher in H. pylori-infected animals (54.4 pg/ml) than in control mice (31 ng/ml). Liver enzymes also increased concurrently; compared with control animals, infected animals had higher AST (158.1 vs. 113.6) and ALT (103.6 vs. 83.8) levels and ALP (56.8 vs. 36.2) levels. The total serum bilirubin concentration was essentially the same between the groups (1.183 mg/ml vs. 1.3 mg/ml). In accordance with the thorough changes in hepatic enzyme rates and hematological abnormalities, serum MMP-9 levels highlight the wider systemic effects of bacterial infection outside the stomach environment and may be a diagnostic indicator for H. pylori infection.