Association of genetic polymorphisms of interleukins with gastric cancer and precancerous gastric lesions in a high-risk Chinese population

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and cytokine-mediated inflammatory responses play important roles in gastric cancer (GC) pathogenesis. To investigate an association between genetic polymorphisms in interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4R, IL-8, IL-10, IL-16, IL-18RAP, IL-22, and IL-32 and risks of GC and its precursors, a population-based study was conducted in Linqu County. Genotypes were determined by Sequenom MassARRAY platform in 132 GC cases and 1198 subjects with gastric lesions. The H. pylori status was determined by C-urea breath test (C-UBT) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Among 11 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), subjects carrying IL-18RAP rs917997 AA genotype were associated with risk of GC [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.83, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.14–2.92] or chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG; OR = 1.55, 95 % CI 1.07–2.24). The risk of GC was also increased in subjects carrying IL-32 rs2015620 A allele (AA + AT; OR = 1.92, 95 % CI 1.09–3.39). Moreover, elevated risks of CAG (OR = 2.64, 95 % CI 1.89–3.69), intestinal metaplasia (IM; OR = 5.58, 95 % CI 3.86–8.05), and dysplasia (DYS; OR = 1.64, 95 % CI 1.18–2.26) were observed in subjects with IL-22 rs1179251 CC genotype. Stratified analysis indicated that risks of GC and its precursors were elevated in subjects with IL-32 rs2015620 A allele (AA + AT) or IL-22 rs1179251 CC genotype and H. pylori infection, and significant interactions between these two SNPs and H. pylori infection were found. These findings suggested that IL-18RAP rs917997, IL-32 rs2015620, IL-22 rs1179251, and interactions between these polymorphisms and H. pylori infection were associated with risks of gastric lesions. Genetic polymorphisms of interleukins may play crucial roles in H. pylori-induced gastric carcinogenesis.