Objective: In order to study the relation between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 alleles and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection.
Methods: Hp-IgG antibody from 46 gastric cancer (GC), 75 esophageal cancer and 100 population-based controls were identified by Hp-IgG quantitative enzyme immunoassay. Biotest HLA-DRB enzyme linked probe hybridization assay kit (low resolution) was used to identify DRB1 alleles.
Results: (1) Frequency of DRB1 * 08 was significantly higher in Hp-IgG positive group than in Hp-IgG negative group (13.1% vs 4.4%, chi(2) = 11.14, P < 0.001). Frequency of DRB1 * 12 was significantly lower in Hp-IgG positive group than in Hp-IgG negatives (5.4% vs 11.3%, chi(2) = 4.49, P < 0.05). (2) Frequency of DRB1 * 02 in GC was significantly higher than that of controls. Frequency of DRB1 * 07 in GC was significantly lower than that of controls. However, neither the frequency of DRB1 * 02 between Hp-IgG positive and Hp-IgG negative groups nor the frequency of DRB1 * 07 between Hp-IgG positive and Hp-IgG negative groups showed significant differences in GC and controls.
Conclusions: (1) HLA-DRB1 * 08 might serve a genetic risk factor for Hp infection while DRB1 * 12 might play a role of protecting effect against Hp infection. (2) DRB1 * 02 might be a genetic risk factor for GC while DRB1 * 07 might play a role of protecting effect against GC. However, the relations between DRB1 * 02, DRB1 * 07 and GC were not associated with Hp infection.