Association Between HLA-DQ Genotypes and Haplotypes vs Helicobacter pylori Infection in an Indonesian Population

Background: Helicobacter pylori is an important gastrointestinal pathogen related to the development ofnot only atrophic gastritis and peptic ulcer, but also gastric cancer. Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) may playparticular roles in host immune responses to bacterial antigens. This study aimed to investigate the associationbetween HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 genotypes and haplotypes vs H. pylori infection in an Indonesian population.
Methods: We selected 294 healthy participants in Mataram, Lombok Island, Indonesia. H. pylori infectionwas determined by urea breath test (UBT). We analyzed HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 genotypes by PCR-RFLPand constructed haplotypes of HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 genes. Multiple comparisons were conducted accordingto the Bonferroni method.
Results: The H. pylori infection rate was 11.2% in this Indonesian population. TheDQB1*0401 genotype was noted to be associated with a high risk of H. pylori infection, compared with theDQB1*0301 genotype. None of the HLA-DQA1 or DQB1 haplotypes were related to the risk of H. pylori infection.
Conclusions: The study suggests that HLADQB1 genes play important roles in H. pylori infection, but there wasno statistically significant association between HLA-DQA1 or DQB1 haplotypes and H.pylori infection in ourLombok Indonesian population.