Immunological and Molecular Detection of Helicobacter pylori in Patients Clinically Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune, inflammatory neurological disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). MS damages the myelinated axons; in the CNS; partially damaging the myelin sheath and axons . Helicobacter pylori promotes stomach inflammation, and due to the maintenance of chronic inflammation in the gastric mucosa, the virulence factors of bacteria indirectly affect the development of symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Objective: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the association of H. pylori infection with multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: One hundred blood samples were collected from people aged 13–65 years from January 2022 to June 2022, and these patients were examined by the consultant medical staff of Dr. Saad Al-Witry Hospital for Neurosciences. These patients were compared with 30 apparently healthy controls. The patients were divided into three groups: the first group consisted of 36 multiple sclerosis patients with H. pylori , the second consisted of 34 multiple sclerosis patients without H. pylori , and the third group consisted of apparently healthy controls. Anti- H. pylori IgA and IgG antibodies were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and TLR-4 and IL-8 genes were detected in the serum of multiple sclerosis patients and the control group using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Results: The statistical analysis shows a highly significant increase ( P ≤ 0.01) in anti- H. pylori IgA and IgG antibodies in sera from patients with MS disorders with H. pylori compared to the control group. It also shows a highly significant increase ( P ≤ 0.01) in MS disorders without H. pylori compared to the control group. TLR-4 and IL-8 gene expression indicate a highly significant difference ( P ≤ 0.001) in sera of patients with MS disorders and H. pylori compared to the control group, and highly significant elevation ( P ≤ 0.01) in MS diseases without H. pylori . Conclusion: The present study shows that H. pylori infection has a significant role in MS.