Identification of Genetic Loci Associated With Helicobacter pylori Serologic Status

Importance Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcer disease and can cause cancer. H pylori prevalence is as high as 90% in some developing countries but 10% of a given population is never colonized, regardless of exposure. Genetic factors are hypothesized to confer H pylori susceptibility. Objective To identify genetic loci associated with H pylori seroprevalence in 2 independent population-based cohorts and to determine their putative pathophysiological role by whole-blood RNA gene expression profiling. Design, Setting, and Participants Two independent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and a subsequent meta-analysis were conducted for anti-H pylori IgG serology in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) (recruitment, 1997-2001 [n=3830]) as well as the Rotterdam Study (RS-I) (recruitment, 1990-1993) and RS-II (recruitment, 2000-2001 [n=7108]) populations. Whole-blood RNA gene expression profiles were analyzed in RS-III (recruitment, 2006-2008 [n=762]) and SHIP-TREND (recruitment, 2008-2012 [n=991]), and fecal H pylori antigen in SHIP-TREND (n=961). Main Outcomes and Measures H pylori seroprevalence. Results Of 10 938 participants, 6160 (56.3%) were seropositive for H pylori. GWASs identified the toll-like receptor (TLR) locus (4p14; top-ranked single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs10004195; P=1.4 x 10(-18); odds ratio, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.65 to 0.76]) and the FCGR2A locus (1q23.3; top-ranked SNP, rs368433; P=2.1 x 10(-8); odds ratio, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.65 to 0.81]) as associated with H pylori seroprevalence. Among the 3 TLR genes at 4p14, only TLR1 was differentially expressed per copy number of the minor rs10004195-A allele (beta =-0.23 [95% CI, -0.34 to -0.11]; P=2.1 x 10(-4)). Individuals with high fecal H pylori antigen titers (optical density >1) also exhibited the highest 25% of TLR1 expression levels (P=.01 by chi(2) test). Furthermore, TLR1 exhibited an Asn248Ser substitution in the extracellular domain strongly linked to the rs10004195 SNP. Conclusions and Relevance GWAS meta-analysis identified an association between TLR1 and H pylori seroprevalence, a finding that requires replication in non-white populations. If confirmed, genetic variations in TLR1 may help explain some of the observed variation in individual risk for H pylori infection. JAMA. 2013;309(18):1912-1920 www.jama.com