title: Association between interleukin-18 gene polymorphism and Helicobacter pylori infection in the Korean population.
abstract: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pleiotropic, pro-inflammatory cytokine that is capable of promoting the Th1 response. A predominant Th1 response induces chronic and persistent inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa in response to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between IL-18 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to H. pylori infection in the Korean population. A total of 678 subjects who underwent a routine health check-up were enrolled. The IL-18 gene polymorphisms at positions -656, -607, -137, +113, and +127 were genotyped. H. pylori positivity was demonstrated in 456 subjects (67.3%). The allele frequencies of IL-18 gene polymorphisms at position -137 (rs187238) were different based on the status of H. pylori infection (G vs. C, adjusted OR 0.64 CI: 0.47-0.87, P = 0.005). The results indicate that the genetic variants in the IL-18 gene may be associated with susceptibility to H. pylori infection in the Korean population, suggesting that IL-18 plays a role in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated diseases. However, this finding requires further replication and validation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Seong
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Myung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Wan-Sik
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Lan
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Hoon
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Chan-Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Oak
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Cho-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Seog
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Joo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D056910:Republic of Korea; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18