Objective: To investigate the relationship between tissue riboflavin level and riboflavin transporter 2 (RFT2) protein expression, and the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection and the plasma riboflavin level in gastric carcinoma (GC).
Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect tissue riboflavin level in patients with GC. Western blotting was applied to analyze the expression of RFT2 protein in 60 tissue samples from gastric carcinoma together with their normal tissues. The Warthin-starry method, rapid urease test and (14)C-UBT were administered to detect the infection of H.pylori. High performance liquid chromatography (H.PYLORILC) was performed to detect plasma riboflavin level in the GC.
Results: A significant decrease in the tissue riboflavin level was detected in GC samples compared to those in the normal mucous membrane (17.02 ± 3.91 vs. 21.0 ± 4.73; P = 0.043), and a significant decrease in the RFT2 protein was found in GC samples compared to those in the normal mucous membrane (0.92 ± 0.39 vs. 1.23 ± 0.51; P = 0.042). A positive correlation of tissue riboflavin level with defective expression of RFT2 protein was observed in GC patients (χ(2) = 1.969; P = 0.039). Plasma riboflavin level in gastric cancer without H.pylori infection group (1.6674 ng/mL ± 0.37009 ng/mL) was higher than H.pylori infection group (1.2207 ng/mL ± 0.17727 ng/mL, P = 0.043).
Conclusion: The results indicate that RFT2 plays an important role in gastric carcinogenesis by modulating riboflavin absorption. H.pylori infection affects plasma riboflavin level and the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.
Keywords: Gastric carcinoma (GC); RFT2; helicobacter pylori; riboflavin.