Helicobacter pylori vacA and cagA genotypes in patients from northeastern Brazil with upper gastrointestinal diseases

Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastric inflammation and significantly increases the risk of duodenal and gastric ulcer disease and distal gastric carcinoma. In this study, we evaluated the Helicobacter pylori vacA and cagA genotypes in patients from a Brazilian region where there is a high prevalence of gastric cancer. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to investigate vacA mosaicism and cagA status in the gastric mucosa of 134 H. pylori-positive patients, including 76 with gastritis: 28 with peptic ulcer disease and 30 with gastric cancer. The s1m1 variant was the predominant vacA genotype observed, whereas the s1 allele was more frequently observed in patients with more severe diseases associated with H. pylori infection [p = 0.03, odds ratio (OR) = 5.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15-38.60]. Furthermore, all of the s1 alleles were s1b. Mixed vacA m1/m2 strains were found more frequently in patients with gastric cancer and a cagA-positive status was significantly associated with gastric cancer (p = 0.016, OR = 10.36, 95% CI = 1.35-217.31). Patients with gastric cancer (21/21, 100%, p = 0.006) or peptic ulcers (20/21, 95%, p = 0.02) were more frequently colonised by more virulent H. pylori strains compared to gastritis patients (41/61, 67.2%). In conclusion, in the northeastern of Brazil, which is one of the regions with the highest prevalence of gastric cancer in the country, infection with the most virulent H. pylori strains, carrying the cagA gene and s1m1 vacA alleles, predominates and is correlated with more severe H. pylori-associated diseases.     

Helicobacter pylori infection and gastroesophageal reflux in a population-based study (The HUNT Study)

BACKGROUND AND AIM: It has been suggested that Helicobacter pylori infection may prevent gastroesophageal reflux, possibly through gastric atrophy. Since, however, previous results are contradictory and no population-based studies are available, the relationship between H. pylori and reflux remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate this relationship in a population-based, nested, case-control study. METHODS: From a cohort of 65,363 individuals, representing 71.2% of the adult population in the Norwegian county of Nord-Trondelag, we randomly selected 472 persons with recurrent reflux symptoms (cases) and 472 without such symptoms (controls). Occurrence of H. pylori and its virulence factor cagA was determined serologically, using an immunoblot assay. Gastric atrophy was assessed through serum levels of pepsinogen I. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for potential confounding factors, represented relative risks. RESULTS: H. pylori infection was not associated with a decreased risk of reflux symptoms (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.6), irrespective of positive cagA status (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.5). Gastric atrophy reduced the risk of reflux symptoms (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.0-0.6). Infection with H. pylori entailed a ninefold increase in the risk of gastric atrophy compared to non-infection (OR 8.9, 95% CI 2.0-39.9). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection, irrespective of cagA status, did not affect the occurrence of reflux symptoms in this population-based setting. Infected individuals are at increased risk of gastric atrophy, which in turn reduces reflux symptoms, but due to the low frequency of gastric atrophy among infected individuals overall, there was no association with reflux symptoms on a population level.     

The importance of HLA DQB1*0602 typing in Slovene patients with narcolepsy

The HLA class II region genes DQB1*0602 and DQA1*0102 are currently the best genetic predictors for narcolepsy in humans (1(. The aim of this study was to identify the HLA DQ alleles (DQB1*0602 and DQA1*0102) in Slovene sporadic narcoleptic patients. 11 patients who fulfilled ICSD criteria for narcolepsy entered the study. DRB1*1501 DQB1*0602 was present in all the patients while DQA1*0102 was absent in 2 patients. We propose that DQB1*0602 typing is important in diagnosing narcolepsy in Slovene patients     

The status of the cagA gene does not predict Helicobacter pylori-associated peptic ulcer disease in Singapore

Discrepancies among reports from different geographical regions worldwide on the association between the presence of cagA and peptic ulcer disease prompted this study on the predictive value of the cagA gene in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastroduodenal diseases in the Singapore population. H. pylori strains were obtained from 169 patients with a peptic ulcer, 83 with non-ulcer dyspepsia, and nine with gastric cancer. The presence of the cagA gene was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expected 400 bp PCR product coding for the cagA gene was present in 232/261 (89%) H. pylori isolates. Of these, 151/169 (89%) strains from patients with peptic ulcer, 73/83 (88%) strains from patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia and 8/9 (89%) strains from cancer patients were positive for the cagA gene. There was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of cagA-positive strains from patients with distinct clinical outcomes (p > 0.05). The prevalence of cagA-positive strains in the Singapore population is high regardless of clinical disease status. The results suggest that the cagA gene is not a universal virulence marker of H. pylori.     

Analysis of HLA DR2&;DQ6 (DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602) Haplotypes in Iranian Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is prototype of inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system .The etiology of MS remains unclear, but according to current data the disease develops in genetically susceptible individuals and may require additional environmental triggers. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles (DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602) may have the strongest genetic effect in MS. In this study, the role of these alleles were investigated in 183 Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis and compared with 100 healthy individuals. HLA typing for DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602 was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) method. The results show that, HLA DR B1*1501 was significantly more frequent among MS patients (46% vs. 20%, PV = 0.0006) but DQA1*0102 haplotype was negatively associated with MS (30% vs. 50%, PV = 0.0049) and no significant association was found with DQB1*0602 and MS patients in comparison with control group (24% and 30%, PV = 0.43). No significant correlation was observed among these alleles with sex, type of disease; initial symptoms, expanded disability status scale (EDSS), as well as age at onset and familial MS. This study therefore indicates that there is no association of above HLA haplotypes with clinical presentation, disease duration, and disability in Iranian patients with MS which is in line with other previous studies in different ethnic groups.     

HLA DOA1 and DOB1 loci in Honduran women with cervical dysplasia and invasive cervical carcinoma and their relationship to human papillomavirus infection.

Molecular and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), mainly HPV-16 and HPV-18, are the primary causes of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions; there is now evidence for a clear association with specific HLA class I and class II loci contributing independently to the expression of cervical cancer. Among Honduran women carcinoma of the cervix is the most common type of cancer, and infections with high-risk HPV types are highly prevalent. To study the interactive role of viral-host genetics, we performed PCR amplification of DNA and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe typing on cervical scrapes from 49 women [24 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia stage III or cervical cancer (severe cases) and 25 with stage I or II cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (mild cases)] and 75 control subjects to look for possible associations between HPV and HLA class II DQA1 and DQB1 alleles in the development of dysplasias and invasive cancer. This analysis revealed a predominance of HLA-DQA1*0301 among severe-case patients [relative risk (RR) = 3.45, p = 0.008), whereas DQA1*0501 was negatively associated (RR = 0.30, p = 0.03), suggesting a protective effect of this allele. HPV typing showed a decreased relative risk among the HPV-16 or HPV-18 carrying patients and other HPV-related positive patients in the presence of DQB1*0602 compared with positive control subjects (p = 0.04). No statistically significant allele frequency difference was observed between mild dysplasia cases and control subjects. The results suggest that DQA1*03011, which is in linkage desequilibrium with all HLA-DR4 alleles, confers an increased risk for severe cervical dysplasia and invasive cancer, whereas DQA1*0501, which is in several DR52 haplotypes, has a protective effect. Furthermore, specific HLA-DQB1 sequences may be important in determining the immune response to HPV peptides and may affect the risk for cervical cancer after HPV infection in mestizo Honduran women.     

HLA class II DR and DQ genotypes and haplotypes associated with rheumatic fever among a clinically homogeneous patient population of Latvian children

The HLA system is being paid more and more attention because it is very significant in polymorphous immunological reactions. Several studies have suggested that genetic susceptibility to rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is linked to HLA class II alleles. We hypothesized that HLA class II associations within RHD may be more consistent if analysed amongst patients with a relatively homogeneous clinical outcome. A total of 70 RF patients under the age of 18 years were surveyed and analysed in Latvia. HLA genotyping of DQA1, DQB1 and DRB1 was performed using PCR with amplification with sequence-specific primers. We also used results from a previous study of DQB1 and DRB1 genotyping. In the RF patients, HLA class II DQA1*0401 was found more frequently compared to DQA1*0102. In the RF homogeneous patient groups, DQA1*0402 has the highest odds ratio. This is also the case in the multivalvular lesion (MVL) group, together with DQA1*0501 and DQA1*0301. In the chorea minor patients, DQA1*0201 was often found. Significant HLA DQA1 protective genotypes were not detected, although DQA1 genotypes *0103/*0201 and *0301/*0501 were found significantly and frequently. In the distribution of HLA DRB1/DQA1 genotypes, *07/*0201 and *01/*0501 were frequently detected; these also occurred significantly often in the MVL group. The genotype *07/*0201 was frequently found in Sydenhamn's chorea patients that had also acquired RHD, but DRB1*04/DQA1*0401 was often apparent in RF patients without RHD. In the distribution of HLA DQA1/DQB1 genotypes, both in RF patients and in the homogeneous patient groups, the least frequent were *0102/*0602-8. The genotype DQA1*0501 with the DQB1 risk allele *0301 was often found in the MVL group. The genotype *0301/*0401-2 was frequently found in the RF and Sydenhamn's chorea patient groups. The haplotype *07-*0201-*0302 was frequently found in RF and homogeneous patient groups, including the MVL group. In addition, haplotypes *04-*0401-*0301 and *04-*0301-*0401-2 were frequent amongst patients with Sydenhamn's chorea. The protective alleles DQA1*0102 and DQB1*0602-8 in the haplotype DRB1*15 were less frequently found in RF patients. The results of the present study support our hypothesis and indicate that certain HLA class II haplotypes are associated with risk for or protection against RHD and that these associations are more evident in patients in clinically homogeneous groups.     

No correlation of babA2 with vacA and cagA genotypes of Helicobacter pylori and grading of gastritis from peptic ulcer disease patients in Brazil

BACKGROUND: The babA2 gene, which encodes a blood-group antigen-binding adhesin that mediates attachment of Helicobacter pylori to human Lewis(b) antigens on gastric epithelial cells, has been associated with a higher risk of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the frequency of babA2 genotype in H. pylori strains of patients with peptic ulcer and to correlate with other virulence factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: vacA, cagA, and babA2 genotypes of H. pylori were determined by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA was extracted from positive urease test gastric samples of 150 patients with peptic ulcer. Antrum and corpus biopsies were taken for histologic examination according to the updated Sydney system classification. RESULTS: babA2 genotype was present in 104 (69.3%) and cagA in 113 (75.3%) gastric samples. No significant correlation was observed between babA2 and vacAs1 genotype or between babA2 and cagA status. The correlation of vacAs1 genotype with positive cagA was statistically significant ( p < .001). The babA2-positive strain was more frequently found from the gastric samples of men, than of women (p = .01). Strains harboring cagA, vacAs1, and babA2 genotypes had no association to the grading of gastritis, presence of glandular atrophy, or intestinal metaplasia. The simultaneous presence of cagA, vacAs1, and babA2 was found in 32.6% of the H. pylori strains. CONCLUSIONS: babA2 genotype is frequently found in H. pylori strains from peptic ulcer disease in Brazil, although it has no significant correlation to the worsening of the gastritis and to other virulence markers such as vacAs1 and cagA.     

Complex HLA-DR and -DQ interactions confer risk of narcolepsy-cataplexy in three ethnic groups

Human narcolepsy-cataplexy, a sleep disorder associated with a centrally mediated hypocretin (orexin) deficiency, is tightly associated with HLA-DQB1*0602. Few studies have investigated the influence that additional HLA class II alleles have on susceptibility to this disease. In this work, 1,087 control subjects and 420 narcoleptic subjects with cataplexy, from three ethnic groups, were HLA typed, and the effects of HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 were analyzed. As reported elsewhere, almost all narcoleptic subjects were positive for both HLA-DQA1*0102 and -DQB1*0602. A strong predisposing effect was observed in DQB1*0602 homozygotes, across all ethnic groups. Relative risks for narcolepsy were next calculated for heterozygous DQB1*0602/other HLA class II allelic combinations. Nine HLA class II alleles carried in trans with DQB1*0602 were found to influence disease predisposition. Significantly higher relative risks were observed for heterozygote combinations including DQB1*0301, DQA1*06, DRB1*04, DRB1*08, DRB1*11, and DRB1*12. Three alleles-DQB1*0601, DQB1*0501, and DQA1*01 (non-DQA1*0102)-were found to be protective. The genetic contribution of HLA-DQ to narcolepsy susceptibility was also estimated by use of lambda statistics. Results indicate that complex HLA-DR and -DQ interactions contribute to the genetic predisposition to human narcolepsy but that additional susceptibility loci are also most likely involved. Together with the recent hypocretin discoveries, these findings are consistent with an immunologically mediated destruction of hypocretin-containing cells in human narcolepsy-cataplexy.     

Helicobacter pylori genotyping and sequencing using paraffin-embedded biopsies from residents of colombian areas with contrasting gastric cancer risks

Background:   cagA -positive and vacA s1 and m1 genotypes of Helicobacter pylori are associated with an elevated risk of gastric cancer (GC). We determined these genotypes using paraffin-embedded gastric biopsy specimens harvested from infected individuals and compared genotype distributions in two Colombian populations residing in geographic regions with a high and low incidence of GC.
Methods:   DNA from paraffin-embedded gastric biopsies from 107 adults was amplified using primers specific for cagA , for the cag 'empty site', for the s and m alleles of vacA , and for H. pylori 16S rRNA.
Results:   H. pylori infection was detected by molecular assays in 97 (90.7%) biopsies. Complete genotyping of cagA and vacA was achieved in 94 (96.9%) cases. The presence of cagA was detected in 78 of 97 cases (80.4%); when considered separately, cagA and vacA s regions were not significantly associated with a particular geographic area. The vacA m1 allele and s1m1 genotypes were more common in the area of high risk for GC ( p =  .037 and p  = .044, respectively), while the vacA m2 allele and s2m2 genotypes were more prevalent in the low-risk area. The prevalence of the combination of cagA -positive, vacA s1m1 genotypes was 84.3% and 60.5% for high and low risk areas, respectively ( p =  .011).
Conclusions:  H. pylori cagA and vacA genotyping from paraffin-embedded gastric biopsies permitted reliable typability and discrimination. The more virulent cagA- positive s1m1 strains, as well as vacA m1 genotype, were more prevalent in high risk than in low risk areas, which may contribute to the difference in GC risk between those two regions.     

The GSTM1 Null Genotype Increased Risk of Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis Based on 46 Studies

Background

Glutathione S-transferases M1 (GSTM1) is an important phase II metabolizing enzyme. The null genotype of GSTM1 causes total loss of GSTM1 enzyme activity and numerous studies have investigated the association between GSTM1 null genotype and gastric cancer risk.

Methods

This meta-analysis was designed to investigate the relationship between GSTM1 null genotype and susceptibility to gastric cancer and assess the influence of Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking, Lauren’s classification, and other factors. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the association strength.

Results

A total of 46 eligible studies were indentified and analyzed in this meta-analysis, including 8138 cases of gastric cancer and 13867 controls. Pooled results showed that the GSTM1 null genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer (OR=1.217, 95% CI: 1.113-1.331, P_{heterogeneity}<0.001). Sub-group analysis suggested that the significant association was only observed in Asians (OR=1.273, 95%: 1.137-1.426, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.002), but not in Caucasians. The increased risk was found among H. pylori positive population (OR=1.928, 95% CI: 1.028-3.615, P_{heterogeneity}=0.065), while no association was found among H. pylori negative population (OR=0.969, 95% CI: 0.618-1.521, P_{heterogeneity}=0.168). For smoking status, the GSTM1 null genotype increased risk of gastric cancer in both ever-smokers and non-smokers. Source of control, sample size, location of tumor and Lauren’s classification did not modify the association.

Conclusions

In this meta-analysis based on 46 epidemiological studies, we show that the GSTM1 null genotype is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer among Asians but not among Caucasians. H. pylori infection but not smoking status could modify the association.     

The role of CagA status in gastric and extragastric complications of Helicobacter pylori.

Two major markers of virulence have been described in H. pylori. The first is a secreted protein (VacA) that is toxic to human cells in tissue culture. This cytotoxin causes vacuolation of epithelial cells in vitro and induces epithelial cell damage in mice. The second is a 40-Kb pathogenicity island for which the gene cagA (cytotoxin-associated gene A) is a marker. Approximately 60% of H. pylori isolates in Western countries are cagA+. The protein encoded by cagA+ has a molecular weight of 120-140 kDa and exhibits sequence heterogeneity among strains isolated from Western and Eastern countries. Although no specific function has been identified for CagA, there is increasing evidence that cagA+ strains are associated with increased intensity of gastric inflammation and increased mucosal concentration of particular cytokines including interleukin 8. Inactivation of picB (Hp 0544) or any of several other genes in the cag island ablates the enhanced IL-8 secretion of human gastric epithelial cells in tissue culture. Furthermore, persons colonized with cagA+ strains have an increased risk of developing more severe gastric diseases such as peptic ulcer and distal (non-cardia) gastric cancer than those harboring cagA- strains. We investigated the role of cagA status in both gastroduodenal and extragastroduodenal disease with H. pylori. Among the diseases limited to the antrum and body of the stomach and the duodenum, we demonstrated a correlation between CagA seropositivity and peptic ulcer disease. We also showed correlation between distal gastric cancer rated and CagA prevalence in populations in both developed and developing countries. In addition, we found that for several Asian populations, the relationship between CagA seropositivity and gastroduodenal diseases was complex. For extragastroduodenal diseases, our results confirmed previous reports that demonstrated that CagA status did not play a role in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and hyperemesis gravidarum. However, we found a clear negative association between the presence of a positive response to CagA and esophageal diseases. Therefore, CagA seropositivity (and thus gastric carriage) is associated with increased risks of certain diseases (involving the lower stomach and duodenum) and decreased risks of GERD and its sequelae. This apparent paradox can best be explained by differences in the interaction of cagA+ and cagA- strains with their hosts.     

幽门螺杆菌毒力基因型与胃癌的相关性研究

目的:研究中国东部地区幽门螺杆菌(H.pylori)cagA、vacA和iceA1毒力基因型的分布状况及其与胃癌的相关性。方法:从52例病人胃黏膜活检组织(31例慢性浅表性胃炎,21例胃癌)中分离培养H.pylori,用PCR方法扩增分离菌株的cagA、iceA1、vacAs,i,m区毒力基因片段,统计并分析上述毒力因素与胃癌发生的相关性。结果:在52例菌株中,cagA、vacAs1/i1/m1、vacAs1/i1/m2和iceA1的阳性率分别是92.3%(48/52),48.1%(25/52),48.1%(25/52),90.4%(47/52);所有的胃癌分离株中均为cagA(+)vacAs1/i1(+)型,vacAm1、vacAm2和iceA1在胃癌组中的阳性率分别是47.6%(10/21),52.4%(11/21),95.2%(20/21),与胃炎组相比,上述基因型的阳性率差异均无显著统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:cagA、vacAs1/i1/m1、vacAs1/i1/m2和iceA1是中国东部地区H.pylori的优势基因型;cagA、vacAs1、vacAi1和iceA1毒力基因型的存在与胃癌的发生无相关性。     

Diverse H. pylori strains,IL-10 promoter polymorphisms with high morbidity of gastric cancer in Hexi area of Gansu Province,China

In Hexi area of Gansu Province, people have a higher susceptibility of gastric cancer than people in the rest area of China. There is substantial geographic variation in the incidence of gastric cancer. In this article, the present author explored the roles of H. pylori infection and IL-10 promoter polymorphisms in development of gastric cancer in this area. A total of 304 participants were admitted to our study, and they were divided into two groups: control group and case group. Blood samples from all subjects were collected for gene extraction using DNA extraction kits. IL-10 polymorphisms were determined by SNaPshot Multiplex. To test H. pylori infection and its typing H. pylori antibody Immunoblotting Kits were used. This research suggested that environmental factor played an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma in the area, H. pylori infection increased the risk of gastric cancer (OR = 2.612, 95% CI 1.636-4.170) and subject with H. pylori I-type positive was at significantly higher risk for progression to gastric cancer (OR = 4.712, 95% CI 2.656-8.537). For subjects with the ATA/GCC or GCC/GCC haplotype of the IL-10-1082/-819/-592 polymorphism relative to the ATA/ATA haplotype group, the risk of gastric cancer development was significantly increased. It has been demonstrated that the presence of IL-10-819 C alleles and IL-10-592 C alleles was associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer development in H. pylori-infected patients and IL-10 promoter polymorphisms and H. pylori have a synergistic effect on gastric cancer in Hexi population.     

Diversity of Helicobacter pylori cagA and vacA genes in Costa Rica: its relationship with atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: Associations between Helicobacter pylori gene diversity and gastric cancer have not been reported on in Costa Rica, despite its being one of the countries with the highest gastric cancer incidence and mortality rates in the world. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori cagA and vacA genes and investigate whether it could be correlated with atrophic gastritis (AG) and gastric cancer (GC) in Costa Rica. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNAs from isolates of 104 patients classified into two groups: non-atrophic gastritis group (n = 68) and atrophic gastritis group (n = 36), were subjected to PCR-based genotyping of cagA and vacA genes and their correlation with clinical outcome was investigated. Total DNA extractions from gastric tissues of 25 H. pylori-infected gastric cancer patients were utilized for comparative purposes. RESULTS: The presence of cagA (75.3%), vacA s1b (75.3%), and vacA m1 (74.2%) was detected, and colonization by strains with different vacA genotypes in the same stomach was found in 9.7% of the patients. Age- and sex-adjusted vacA s1b and vacA m1 were associated with GC while only vacA m1 was significantly associated with AG. A tendency for association between cagA and vacA s1b, and AG was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence status of the cagA and vacA (s1/m1) genes in Costa Rica seems to fall between that found in European/North American and East Asian countries, and both cagA and vacA seem to have clinical relevance in this country.     

Interleukin-2 gene polymorphisms associated with increased risk of gastric atrophy from Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND: Gastric atrophy induced by Helicobacter pylori is thought to predispose patients to noncardiac gastric cancer development. However, the host genetic factors that influence the progression of gastric atrophy have not been elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of cytokine polymorphisms on H. pylori-induced gastric atrophy. METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 454 Japanese subjects. The interleukin-2 (IL-2; T-330G), IL-4 (C-33T), and IL-13 (C-1111T) polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers (PCR-CTPP). Anti-H. pylori IgG antibody and pepsinogen I and II were measured to diagnose H. pylori infection and atrophic gastritis. RESULTS: The odds ratios (ORs) for the association between IL-2 polymorphism [OR = 2.78, 95% CI (confidence interval) = 1.26-6.17 (T/T to G/G)] or IL-4 polymorphism [OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.01-4.89 (T/C to C/C)] were increased significantly with gastric atrophy, whereas the corresponding OR of IL-13 polymorphism was decreased with gastric atrophy [OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.39-0.96 (C/T and T/T to C/C)]. There were no significant H. pylori seropositivity-related differences between these polymorphisms. We examined the relationship between these polymorphisms and gastric atrophy separately in H. pylori-seropositive and -seronegative groups. In the H. pylori-seropositive group, the IL-2 T/T (OR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.12-6.93) had a significant association with gastric atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal that the IL-2 gene polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of gastric atrophy induced by H. pylori infection and might predispose to gastric cancer.     

Helicobacter pylori Infection and Family History of Gastric Cancer Decrease Expression of FHIT Tumor Suppressor Gene in Gastric Mucosa of Dyspeptic Patients

Background:  The expression of a fragile histidine triad (FHIT) protein is lost in stomach tumors. The study aimed at determining whether FHIT expression is affected by Helicobacter pylori infection, strain virulence ( vacA and cagA genes) and histopathological changes in the gastric mucosa of patients with functional dyspepsia having first-degree relatives with gastric cancer.
Materials and Methods:  Eighty-eight never-smoking patients with functional dyspepsia were selected for the study, and 48 of them had first-degree relatives with gastric cancer. Bacterial DNA amplification was used to identify H. pylori colonization. The level of FHIT gene expression was determined by qRT-PCR (mRNA) and Western blot (FHIT protein) analyses.
Results:  For patients having first-degree relatives with gastric cancer FHIT expression was lower (mRNA by ca. 40–45% and protein by 30%) compared with the control patients ( p  < .05). H. pylori infection decreased the FHIT mRNA level by 10–35% and the protein level by 10–20%. Bacterial strain vacA (+) cagA (+) lowered FHIT mRNA by ca. 30–35% in the antrum samples of both groups and in corpus samples of patients with first-degree relatives with gastric cancer ( p  < .05). The FHIT mRNA level was twice as high in control H. pylori- negative patients with intestinal metaplasia, compared with those with non-atrophic gastritis.
Conclusions:  The decreased FHIT gene expression associated with hereditary factors and with H. pylori infection, especially with vacA (+) cagA (+)-positive strains, may be related to gastric carcinoma development.     

Helicobacter pylori and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Case–Control Study

Background:  Gastric colonization with Helicobacter pylori is a proposed protective factor against gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but little population-based data exist and other data conflict.
Methods:  We conducted a case–control study within the membership of a large integrated health-care system that compared GERD-free subjects with two groups: subjects with a physician-assigned GERD diagnosis and randomly selected members with self-described weekly GERD symptoms. Subjects completed interviews, GERD questionnaires, and antibody testing for H. pylori and its cagA protein.
Results:  Serologic data were available for 301 physician-assigned GERD patients, 81 general membership subjects with GERD symptoms, and 175 general membership subjects without GERD symptoms. Physician-assigned GERD patients were less likely to have H. pylori antibodies than GERD-free member controls (odds ratio (OR) = 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15–0.47); there was also an inverse association between H. pylori and GERD symptom severity (OR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.08–0.41; severe or very severe symptoms) and GERD frequency (OR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.09–0.38; for symptoms at least weekly). The association was stronger among persons with erosive GERD and was similar between H. pylori -positive subjects with and without cagA. There was no association among persons who were cagA positive, but H. pylori negative. Similar findings were found in analyses of the general membership with self-described GERD symptoms.
Conclusions:  H. pylori antibody status was inversely associated with a GERD diagnosis and GERD symptoms compared with a general membership population.     

A model of Helicobacter pylori persistence in a case of gastric cancer

The aim of this work was to analyze several clones of Helicobacter pylori isolated from a patient with gastric cancer, to evaluate i) genetic variability ii) virulence factors profile and iii) antimicrobial susceptibility against the drugs commonly used in the H. pylori therapy. A total of 32 H. pylori clones isolated from a biopsy sample coming from a patient with gastric cancer previously treated for H. pylori infection, were analyzed for: the genetic variability by amplified fragment polymorphism analysis; the vacA, cagA virulence status by PCR; the antimicrobial susceptibility by minimum inhibitory concentrations with the agar dilution method towards amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin and tinidazole. The patient showed a mixed infection with the presence of at least 3 different strains. The clones isolated possessed the vacA, cagA virulence factors with a different allelic combination (vacA s1/i1/m1; s1/i1i2/m1; s2/i2/m2; s2/i1i2/m2) together with repeated cagA EPIYA motif pattern P1P2P3P3P3. Moreover, a pattern of multi-drug resistance was disclosed in the different clones. The presence of multiple H. pylori strains colonizing the same patient, with the main virulence factors displaying a different allelic combination and a different multi-drug resistance among isolates, point out the role of genetic variability generating, in time, more virulent and adapted strains.