Mechanisms of action of bile acids in pediatric gastroesophageal reflux: Exploration through non-targeted and targeted metabolomics methods

ABSTRACT:

Purpose: To investigate the pathogenesis of pediatric bile reflux gastritis (BRG) using non-targeted and targeted metabolomics analyses of the changes and content differences of bile acids (BAs) in gastric juice. Methods: Data from 25 pediatric BRG patients treated at Jinhua Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital between May 2022 and August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-five patients with gastritis without bile reflux and 25 healthy controls were selected for the comparison of total bile acids (TBA) levels of gastric juice and peripheral blood and the identification of differential metabolites. The correlations of gastric juice and peripheral blood TBA levels with the clinical characteristics of the pediatric BRG patients were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to determine the area under ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of TBA in diagnosing BRG. Results: Identification and quantitative metabolomics revealed that the top 10 differential metabolites of gastric juice between the BRG and healthy control groups were fatty acids, phospholipids, 23-carbon compounds, amines, vitamins, steroids, peptide hormones, monosaccharides, polyketides, and non-ribosomal peptides. This indicated that glycerophospholipid metabolism, prodigiosin biosynthesis, lysine degradation, glycerolipid metabolism, and primary BA biosynthesis were the most relevant pathways. Differential metabolites were primarily concentrated in the T helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation pathway (P < 0.05, effect value>0.1). 

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - reverse-phase, Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - reverse-phase

PROVIDER: MTBLS13459 | MetaboLights | 2025-12-05

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights