IL-1B-511 C-->T polymorphism is associated with increased host susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori infection in Chinese.

Background: The heritability of Helicobacter pylori infection from twin studies has been reported to be 0.66. However, few data were available on the host susceptibility to H. pylori infection in Chinese. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the IL-1B and IL-1RN single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and ABO blood types on the host susceptibility to H. pylori infection.

Methods: Individuals who underwent routine health check-up were enrolled. Genotyping was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct sequencing and size fractionation using DNA from peripheral blood samples. Odds ratios (OR) for the susceptibility of H. pylori infection were computed from logistic regression models.

Results: The overall prevalence of H. pylori was 62% among the 663 healthy individuals, with 54.7, 63.5, and 66.9% in persons genotyped C/C, C/T, and T/T at IL-1B-511, respectively. Age (OR 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03-1.07, p < .001) and T carrier at IL-1B-511 (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.06-2.30, p = .026) were independent factors associated with increased risks of H. pylori infection in the multivariate analysis. The risks of H. pylori infection were not related to IL-1RN SNP and ABO blood types.

Conclusions: These findings support that a proinflammatory polymorphism at IL-1B promoter gene is associated with increased host susceptibility to H. pylori infection in Chinese.