Functional promotor polymorphism in RANTES gene does not influence the clinical course of Helicobacter pylori infection.
OBJECTIVE
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Hellmig
Stephan
S
Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany. s.hellmig@mucosa.de
Mascheretti
Silvia
S
Fölsch
Ulrich
U
Schreiber
Stefan
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D004384:Duodenoscopy; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000209:etiology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000209:etiology
D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D004247:DNA