BACKGROUND Persistent infections that induce prolonged inflammation might negatively affect the leukocyte telomere length (LTL); however, the role in LTL of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, which persistently colonizes the stomach, remains unknown. The study objective was to examine associations of sero-prevalence of H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody and serum pepsinogens (PGs), as markers of atrophic gastritis, with LTL. A cross-sectional study was performed among 934 Arab residents of East Jerusalem, aged 27-78 years, randomly selected from Israel's national population registry. Sera were tested for H. pylori IgG and PG levels by ELISA. LTL was measured by southern blots. Multiple linear regression models were fitted to adjust for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. RESULTS LTL decreased significantly with age (p < 0.001) and was shorter in men than women (p = 0.032). The mean LTL was longer in H. pylori sero-positive persons than negative ones: mean difference 0.13 kb (95% CI 0.02, 0.24), p = 0.016. Participants with atrophic gastritis (PGI < 30 μg/L or a PGI: PGII < 3.0) had shorter LTL than did those without: mean difference - 0.18 (95% CI - 0.32, - 0.04). The difference was of larger magnitude between persons who had past H. pylori infection (sero-negative to H. pylori IgG antibody) and atrophic gastritis, compared to those who were H. pylori sero-negative and did not have atrophic gastritis: mean difference - 0.32 kb (95% CI - 0.55, - 0.10). This association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and religiosity: beta coefficient - 0.21 kb (95% CI - 0.41, - 0.001), p = 0.049. The results were similar after further adjustment for lifestyle factors. In bivariate analysis, mean LTL was longer in physically active persons than non-active ones, and shorter in persons with than without obesity; however, these differences were diminished and were not significant in the multivariable model. CONCLUSIONS H. pylori IgG sero-positivity per se was not related to reduced LTL. However, persons with past H. pylori infection (i.e., lacking H. pylori IgG serum antibody) and with serological evidence of atrophic gastritis, had a significantly shorter LTL than did those without atrophic gastritis.

中文翻译：

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幽门螺杆菌感染，血清胃蛋白酶原作为萎缩性胃炎的标志物和白细胞端粒长度：一项基于人群的研究。

背景技术引起持续性炎症的持续感染可能会对白细胞端粒长度（LTL）产生负面影响。然而，持久地定居在胃中的幽门螺杆菌（H. pylori）感染在LTL中的作用仍然未知。研究目的是检查幽门螺杆菌免疫球蛋白G（IgG）抗体和血清胃蛋白酶原（PGs）的血清阳性率与LTL的相关性，作为萎缩性胃炎的标志物。在东耶路撒冷的934名阿拉伯居民中进行了一项横断面研究，年龄在27-78岁之间，他们是从以色列国家人口登记册中随机选择的。通过ELISA测试血清的幽门螺杆菌IgG和PG水平。通过Southern印迹测量LTL。拟合了多个线性回归模型以调整社会人口统计学和生活方式因素。结果LTL随着年龄的增长而显着下降（p < 0.001），男性比女性短（p = 0.032）。幽门螺杆菌血清阳性者的平均LTL比阴性者更长：平均差异为0.13 kb（95％CI 0.02，0.24），p = 0.016。萎缩性胃炎（PGI <30μg/ L或PGI：PGII <3.0）的参与者的LTL短于没有萎缩性胃炎的参与者：平均差异-0.18（95％CI-0.32，-0.04）。与没有幽门螺杆菌血清阴性但没有萎缩性胃炎的人相比，过去有幽门螺杆菌感染（对幽门螺杆菌IgG抗体呈血清阴性）和萎缩性胃炎的人之间的差异更大。 -0.32 kb（95％CI-0.55，-0.10）。在调整了年龄，性别和宗教信仰之后，这种关联仍然很明显：β系数-0.21 kb（95％CI-0.41，-0.001），p = 0.049。进一步调整生活方式因素后，结果相似。在双变量分析中，体力活动者的平均零担时间长于非运动者，而有肥胖者的平均零食时间短于没有肥胖者。但是，这些差异已减少，在多变量模型中并不显着。结论幽门螺杆菌IgG血清阳性本身与LTL降低无关。但是，过去有幽门螺杆菌感染（即缺乏幽门螺杆菌IgG血清抗体）且具有血清学证据的萎缩性胃炎的人，其LTL明显短于无萎缩性胃炎的人。这些差异已减少，在多变量模型中不显着。结论幽门螺杆菌IgG血清阳性本身与LTL降低无关。但是，过去有幽门螺杆菌感染（即缺乏幽门螺杆菌IgG血清抗体）且具有血清学证据的萎缩性胃炎的人，其LTL明显短于无萎缩性胃炎的人。这些差异已减少，在多变量模型中不显着。结论幽门螺杆菌IgG血清阳性本身与LTL降低无关。但是，过去有幽门螺杆菌感染（即缺乏幽门螺杆菌IgG血清抗体）且具有血清学证据的萎缩性胃炎的人，其LTL明显短于无萎缩性胃炎的人。