Association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) C609T polymorphism observed in outpatients and health checkup examinees

Background Significant associations of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) seropositivity have been found with several host polymorphisms. This study investigated the associations of functional polymorphisms of the NQO1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genes of detoxification enzymes, with the seropositivity, as well as with pepsinogen levels, as markers of gastric atrophy.Methods The subjects were 241 noncancer outpatients who had participated in an H. pylori eradication program (HPE) at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, and 465 health checkup examinees in Nagoya (HCE). The NQO1 C609T, GSTM1, and GSTT1 polymorphisms were determined by triplex polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers (PCR-CTPP).Results The sex- and age-group-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of NQO1 C/C for H. pylori seropositivity relative to T/T was highly significant; OR, 1.92; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.22–3.03. The ORs of the GSTM1 present type and GSTT1 present type for H. pylori seropositivity were not significant; OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.64–1.20 and OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.83–1.57, respectively. The association of the NQO1 C/C genotype with H. pylori seropositivity was observed only for never-smokers; OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.33–3.79. The genotypes of the NQO1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genes were not associated with the development of atrophic gastritis among the H. pylori-seropositive subjects.Conclusion This is the first study to report a significant association of the NQO1 C609T polymorphism with H. pylori seropositivity. The biological mechanism explaining the significant association with the seropositivity remains to be elucidated.