Influence of Cytokine Genetic Polymorphisms in -Associated Gastric Inflammation According to Sex in South Korea.

Background/aims: : The relationship between genetic polymorphisms and gastric inflammation remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of genetic polymorphisms on (HP)-associated gastritis according to sex.

Methods: : Two hundred thirty-two male and 404 female subjects with current HP infection were prospectively enrolled. The genotyping of C/T, variable number of tandem repeats, G/C, A/T, C/T, G/A, C/A, G/A, and transforming growth factor ()- C/T, was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The degree of monocyte or neutrophil infiltration, atrophic gastritis, and intestinal metaplasia was evaluated using the updated Sydney system.

Results: : Among the male subjects, moderate/severe atrophic gastritis of the corpus was higher in CC carriers than in CT and TT carriers independent of age, alcohol consumption, and HP virulence factors (26.9% vs 10.4%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 4.377; 95% confidence interval, 1.387 to 13.814). In females, AA carriers were independently and significantly associated with moderate/severe atrophic gastritis of the corpus compared with that in AT and TT carriers (21.4% vs 6.0%, adjusted HR=3.799). In males, the TT genotype was associated with moderate/severe intestinal metaplasia of the corpus compared with the AT and AA genotypes (13.4% vs 5.6%, adjusted HR=3.128), while the CA and CC genotypes were associated with moderate/severe monocyte infiltration of the antrum compared with AA genotype (83.6% vs 71.8%, adjusted HR=2.227).

Conclusions: : Genetic polymorphisms in cytokines play different roles in HP-associated gastritis according to sex.