Association of human leukocyte antigen DQ-rs3920AG genotype with Helicobacter pylori recurrence in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.

Aims: The aim was to evaluate the role of HLA-DP/DQ single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Helicobacter pylori infection in Kafrelsheikh governorate, Egypt.

Methods And Results: The study enrolled 120 persons; 48 naïve H. pylori-infected patients, 42 relapsers and 30 H. pylori-free controls. Gastroscopy, H. pylori stool antigen, anti-CagA and anti-VacA antibodies were determined. Genotyping of HLA-DPA1rs3077 (A/G) SNP and HLA-DQ-rs3920(A/G) SNP was done using real-time PCR. The antibody profile against H. pylori showed that 85.7% of patients with recurrent infection have IgG against CagA (p = 0.001*). There was a significant association between the occurrence of H. pylori infection and both HLA-DPA1rs3077AA and HLA-DQ-rs3920AG genotypes. Concerning H. pylori relapse, the HLA-DQ-rs3920AG genotype was detected in 78.6% of patients with recurrent infection (p = 0.002*). Patients carrying this genotype tend to be relapsers 9.8 times more than patients carrying other genotypes.

Conclusions: HLA-DPA1rs3077AA and/or HLA-DQ-rs3920AG genotypes could be risk factors for the occurrence of H. pylori infection. HLA-DQ-rs3920AG genotype is markedly linked to recurrent H. pylori infection.

Significance And Impact Of The Study: Host factors as HLA gene polymorphism could be a predisposing factor for susceptibility, recurrence or chronicity of H. pylori and should be studied in different ethnic groups.