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. 2001 Sep;54(9):703–706. doi: 10.1136/jcp.54.9.703

Association between TNF-α promoter polymorphism and Helicobacter pylori cagA subtype infection

S Yea 1, Y Yang 1, W Jang 1, Y Lee 1, H Bae 1, K Paik 1
PMCID: PMC1731516  PMID: 11533078

Abstract

Aims—To assess the importance of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) promoter polymorphism in relation to infection with the cytotoxin associated gene A (cagA) subtype of Helicobacter pylori within a dyspeptic Korean population.

Methods—Eighty three patients with gastric disease and 113 healthy controls were studied. The DNA from gastric biopsy specimens was analysed by H pylori specific and cagA specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To characterise TNF-α polymorphism at positions -308 and -238, PCR based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed.

Results—Helicobacter pylori infection was closely correlated with G to A transition at position -308 of the TNF-α promoter when compared with healthy controls (odds ratio (OR), 2.912; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.082 to 7.836; p = 0.034). Although TNF-α -308 polymorphism in patients with H pylori was not significantly different from that in patients without H pylori, the -308A polymorphism was strongly associated with H pylori cagA subtype infection when compared with the polymorphism in cagA negative H pylori infection (OR, 8.757; 95% CI, 1.413 to 54.262; p = 0.019) and healthy controls (OR, 3.683; 95% CI, 1.343 to 10.101; p = 0.011). G to A genetic change at position -238 of the TNF-α gene was not significantly associated with H pylori cagA subtype infection. In addition, genetic polymorphisms at both sites of the TNF-α promoter in patients with H pylori infection did not correlate with the severity of disease.

Conclusion—TNF-α -308A polymorphism was significantly related to infection with the H pylori cagA subtype in Korean patients with gastric disease.

Key Words: Helicobacter pylori • cagA • tumour necrosis factor α • polymorphism

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Selected References

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