Association analysis of Helicobacter pylori infection with human genetic polymorphisms and serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 levels.

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between risk gene polymorphisms and Helicobacter pylori infection in Chinese populations remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate this association by analysing candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and serum vitamin D3 levels in an independent cohort.

METHODS

This case-control study included 172 serologically confirmed H. pylori-positive adults and 144H. pylori-seronegative individuals. Nine candidate SNPs were genotyped, and serum vitamin D3 levels were measured.

RESULTS

Genetic variants in TLR9 (rs187084T: OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.03-1.95; rs164640G: OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.08-2.08) were significantly associated with an increased risk of H. pylori infection. Furthermore, rs3804099, a specific polymorphism in TLR2, was associated with serum vitamin D3 levels; the TT genotype was associated with significantly higher abundance of vitamin D3 than the CC genotype (P = 0.010), which was validated using the Bonferroni-adjusted model. Finally, a direct correlation between H. pylori seropositivity and vitamin D3 deficiency was confirmed (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study identified that TLR9 SNPs (rs187084 and rs164640) are associated with the susceptibility for H. pylori infection and revealed a link between a TLR2 variant (rs3804099) and vitamin D3 levels in a Chinese population. Collectively, our findings raise the hypothesis of a potential interplay between genetic, immune, and nutritional status in H. pylori susceptibility, which requires validation in independent cohorts and functional studies.