The association of Helicobacter pylori induced DNA methylation genes STMN1 and DIMT1 in Iraq gastric cancer patients

Gastric diseases, particularly those associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, represent a significant global health challenge. This study aimed to investigate the clinical, molecular, and epigenetic factors underlying gastric diseases, focusing on the role of H. pylori, its virulence gene cagA, and key molecular markers such as miR-210 and DNA methylation patterns of DIMT1 and STMN1.The results demonstrated that H. pylori infection and its cagA virulence gene were strongly associated with various gastric diseases, including gastritis, gastric cancer, and lymphoma. Odds ratio analysis revealed a robust link between cagA positivity and increased risk of gastric pathologies. Molecular findings highlighted significant downregulation of miR-210 in patients, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic biomarker for gastric cancer progression. Epigenetic analysis revealed hypermethylation of DIMT1 in 70.9% of patients, emphasizing its role as a critical epigenetic event and a promising biomarker for early detection of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer. In contrast, STMN1 hypomethylation showed moderate associations with specific demographic and clinical factors but appeared less significant in disease progression. These findings underscore the pivotal role of H. pylori in gastric disease pathogenesis, highlighting the interplay between infection, inflammation, hypoxia, and epigenetic dysregulation. The study suggests that miR-210 and DIMT1 methylation are valuable biomarkers for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Furthermore, the results emphasize the potential of integrating molecular and epigenetic markers into diagnostic protocols and therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for gastric disease patients