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World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2014; 20(18): 5235-5243
Published online May 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5235
Cytokines, cytokine gene polymorphisms and Helicobacter pylori infection: Friend or foe?
Camila A Figueiredo, Cintia Rodrigues Marques, Ryan dos Santos Costa, Hugo Bernardino F da Silva, Neuza M Alcantara-Neves
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
Author contributions: Figueiredo CA contributed to the conception and design of the article, revised and edited the draft for intellectual content and gave final approval of the submitted version; Marques CR, Costa RS and Silva HBF reviewed the literature and wrote the manuscript draft; and Alcantara-Neves NM contributed to the manuscript’s conception and reviewed and edited the final version of the article.
Correspondence to: Neuza M Alcantara-Neves, MD, PhD, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon, S/N, Canela, CEP 40110-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. neuzalcantara@gmail.com
Telephone: +55-71-32838932 Fax: +55-71-32838932
Received: September 28, 2013
Revised: December 11, 2013
Accepted: January 8, 2014
Published online: May 14, 2014
Processing time: 227 Days and 12.5 Hours
Abstract

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.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; Stomach cancer; Immunity; Cytokines; Polymorphisms

Core tip: In this review, we present the cytokine profiles of infection and the main cytokine gene polymorphisms associated with resistance/susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori. We also discuss how such polymorphisms may influence infection/disease outcomes.