Introduction: The human interleukin-1b gen (IL-1 b) polymorphisms such as -511, -31 and +3954 have been associated with the presence of gastric cancer, due to the inhibitor effect that this protein has on acid secretion in the stomach. This facility can enhance the colonization and infection by agents like Helicobactor. pylori and the genesis of preneoplastic states that can lead to cancer development.
Objective: Three polymorphisms of IL-1β (+3954, -511 and -31) will be genetically characterized and their frequencies established in a population of patients with gastric symptoms.
Materials and methods: Gastric antrum biopsies were obtained from 111 patients that showed signs of gastric disorder. A PCR was done to detect the H. pylori presence; a PCR using designed primers for specific regions was done to define the three polymorphic regions of IL-1β, and a RFLP was carried out using Aval, Alul and TaqI for the position -511, -231 and +3954 for each case.
Results: Helicobacter pylori was detected in 59.5% of the evaluated gastric while the histopathology study revealed that 82.9% of patients had some pathology. Characterization of polymorphic regions of IL-1β gen were joined to RFLP typing evidenced that all described genotypes were present in the study population. However, patients with benign pathologies infected with H. pylori had a high frequency of the CC genotype (28.6%) in the -31 polymorphic regions.
Conclusion: No significant differences were found between the genotype frequencies of the H. pylori-infected and the non-infected populations with one exception. The CC genotype in the -31 polymorphic region was associated with benign pathologies.