Objective: Relations between host genetic factors and clinical outcomes of Helicobacter pylori infection are variable among ethnicities. The aim of this study was to examine gastric mucosal cytokines, matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), and serum pepsinogen levels before and after eradication of H. pylori according to IL-1B genotypes and benign gastroduodenal phenotypes in a Korean population.
Material and methods: A total of 349 Koreans including H. pylori-infected subjects (n=230) and H. pylori-negative controls (n=119) were enrolled. The former subjects were classified into groups according to the presence of non-atrophic gastritis (n=74), atrophic gastritis (n=56), gastric ulcer (n=37), and duodenal ulcer (n=63). IL-1B polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Gastric mucosal IL-1beta, IL-8, and MMP-3, and serum pepsinogen I and II levels were measured by ELISA and radioimmunoassay, respectively.
Results: There were no significant differences between the IL-1B-31/-511 haplotype (TT/CC, CT/CT, and CC/TT) frequencies among the H. pylori-positive and -negative groups. The genotypes of IL-1B-31/-511 polymorphisms did not affect clinical phenotypes, inflammatory cytokines, MMP-3, and pepsinogen secretion. Subjects with H. pylori-infected atrophic gastritis exhibited significantly higher basal levels of cytokines and a lower pepsinogen I/II ratio than those of other groups. Following H. pylori eradication, inflammatory cytokines significantly decreased and the pepsinogen I/II ratio increased in all groups.
Conclusions: Mucosal inflammatory cytokines, MMP-3, and pepsinogen secretion are related to gastroduodenal phenotypes but not to IL-1B genotypes. Eradication of H. pylori can reduce mucosal inflammation and restore pepsinogen secretion.