Abstract
The expression of growth factors, proteolytic enzymes, fibrogenic factors, and cytokines is altered in the Helicobacter pylori–infected gastric mucosa. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association of functional promoter variants of transforming growth factor (TGF)-B1 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 genes with gastritis and gastric precancerous lesions. After upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a total of 130 rapid urease test–positive patients with nonulcer dyspepsia were examined for H. pylori infection using modified Giemsa stain and IgG anti-CagA ELISA. All patients and 200 asymptomatic controls were genotyped for TGF-B1 (−509 C>T) and MMP-7 (−181 A>G) substitutions using PCR-RFLP. The genotype and allele frequencies of TGF-B1 and MMP-7 polymorphisms did not differ between patients and controls (p > 0.05). However, the CagA-positive patients with TGF-B1 −509 T allele had higher risk for gastric atrophy (p = 0.026, odds ratio [OR] = 2.38) and lymphoid follicle development (p = 0.028, OR = 2.29). In addition, CagA-positive patients carrying MMP-7 −181 G allele had risk for lymphoid follicle formation (p = 0.027, OR = 2.30). Thus, the present study revealed significant association of functional MMP-7 and TGF-B1 gene variants toward susceptibility to H. pylori–induced precancerous gastric lesions.
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