Background and aims: Helicobacter pylori was found to increase the transcription of RANTES as a potent chemoattractant cytokine in mucosal inflammation. The aim of this study was to test if a functional promotor polymorphism in the RANTES gene leading to a higher transcriptional activity influences the severity of the mucosal damage in H. pylori infected individuals.
Methods: A single nucleotide polymorphism, C-471T, was genotyped by TaqMan technology in a sample of 344 consecutive patients with H. pylori infection undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 370 blood donors. Association with the development of erosions and stomach or duodenum ulcers as well as atrophic gastritis were tested.
Results: None of the genotypes were associated with the severity of mucosal damage in stomach or duodenum (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Even though H. pylori itself induces expression of RANTES, at the transcriptional level, genetic variations leading to higher transcriptional activity do not modify the degree of inflammation.