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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2014; 20(16): 4558-4565
Published online Apr 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i16.4558
Published online Apr 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i16.4558
Ethnic differences in gastric cancer genetic susceptibility: Allele flips of interleukin gene
Juwon Kim, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Gangwon-do 220-701, South Korea
Yoonjung Kim, Kyung-A Lee, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 135-720, South Korea
Author contributions: Kim J, Kim Y and Lee KA wrote and edited the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Kyung-A Lee, MD, PhD, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-720, South Korea. kal1119@yuhs.ac
Telephone: +82-2-20193531 Fax: +82-2-20194822
Received: October 28, 2013
Revised: December 12, 2013
Accepted: March 8, 2014
Published online: April 28, 2014
Revised: December 12, 2013
Accepted: March 8, 2014
Published online: April 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: In Asian populations, the highly expressed interleukin (IL)-1β haplotype may increase risk for gastric cancer. Abundant IL-1β expression determined by this haplotype may suppress gastric acid production in response to chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, resulting in atrophic gastritis, the precursor of non-cardia gastric cancer. Conversely, the less expressive IL-1B haplotype associates with gastric cardia cancer in Caucasians. Only low levels of IL-1β are produced in response to H. pylori infection and gastric acid secretion is increased. Induction of gastroesophageal reflux disease may then promote cardia cancers.