Cytokines, cytokine gene polymorphisms and Helicobacter pylori infection: friend or foe?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a flagellated, spiral-shaped, microaerophilic Gram-negative bacillus that colonises the gastric mucosa of more than 50% of the human population. Infection is a risk factor for gastritis, ulcer disease and stomach cancer. Immunity against H. pylori is mainly related to Th1/Th17 skewing, and the activation of regulatory T cells is the main strategy used to limit inflammatory responses, which can result in the pathogen persistence and can lead to chronic gastrointestinal diseases, including cancer. Furthermore, host genetic factors that affect cytokines may determine differences in the susceptibility to many diseases. In this review, we present the cytokine profiles and the main cytokine gene polymorphisms associated with resistance/susceptibility to H. pylori and discuss how such polymorphisms may influence infection/disease outcomes.
Camila A Figueiredo, Cintia Rodrigues Marques, Ryan dos Santos Costa, Hugo Bernardino F da Silva, Neuza M Alcantara-Neves, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia 41110-100, Brazil.
Camila A
CA
Figueiredo
Camila A Figueiredo, Cintia Rodrigues Marques, Ryan dos Santos Costa, Hugo Bernardino F da Silva, Neuza M Alcantara-Neves, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia 41110-100, Brazil.
Cintia Rodrigues
CR
Marques
Camila A Figueiredo, Cintia Rodrigues Marques, Ryan dos Santos Costa, Hugo Bernardino F da Silva, Neuza M Alcantara-Neves, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia 41110-100, Brazil.
Ryan dos Santos
Rdos S
Costa
Camila A Figueiredo, Cintia Rodrigues Marques, Ryan dos Santos Costa, Hugo Bernardino F da Silva, Neuza M Alcantara-Neves, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia 41110-100, Brazil.
Hugo Bernardino F
HB
da Silva
Camila A Figueiredo, Cintia Rodrigues Marques, Ryan dos Santos Costa, Hugo Bernardino F da Silva, Neuza M Alcantara-Neves, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia 41110-100, Brazil.
Neuza M
NM
Alcantara-Neves
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D016207:Cytokines
Cytokines; Helicobacter pylori; Immunity; Polymorphisms; Stomach cancer