Korean J Blood Transfus.  2001 Jun;12(1):35-45.

Relationship of Helicobacter pylori IgG seroprevalence with Lewis (a,b) blood group phenotype/genotype

• Suh IB
• Kim YK

Abstract

BACKGROUND
It is well known that the individuals of blood group O and nonsecretors are more susceptible to peptic ulcers. Recently, reported that Lewis b blood group antigen mediated Helicobacter pylori attachment to human gastric mucosa and suggested that Le(b+)/secretors may be more susceptible to Helicobacter pylori infection than Le(b-)/nonsecretors. However, controversy and no convincing clinical support for this have been presented so far. The aim of this study were (1) to determine if blood group antigen associated with Le(b+) status is high risk factor for Helicobacter pylori infection, (2) to determine association between Lewis genotype and Helicobacter pylori infection and (3) to determine difference between Lewis genotype and phenotype. METHOD: ABO and Lewis blood group phenotyping was tested with the monoclonal antibody and Lewis blood group genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP method. The relative activity of Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 103 sera.
RESULTS
1. The individuals with Lewis b(+)/secretors phenotype showed no significantly higher IgG immune response to Helicobacter pylori infection. 2. The individuals with Lewis (Le/Se) genotype showed no significantly higher IgG immune response to Helicobacter pylori infection than Lewis (le) or Lewis (se). 3. The frequencies of occurrence of Le, le, Se1, Se2 and sej among 206 alleles examined in patient's sample of 103 Korean individuals were 66.5%, 33.5%, 12.6%, 41.3% and 46.1%, respectively. 4. Lewis(a,b) blood group phenotype of this study group was accordant with Lewis genotype by PCR-RFLP in 88.1%.
CONCLUSION
This study revealed the Le(b) blood group phenotype/genotype were not associated with the Helicobacter pylori IgG seroprevalence, but showed higher seroprevalence rate of the Helicobacter pylori IgG in the Le(b+) phenotype/genotype than those in Le(b-).

Keyword

FUT II gene; FUT III gene; Helicobacter pylori; seroprevalence; Lewis; ABO; phenotype; genotype; blood group

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Gastric Mucosa
Genotype
Helicobacter pylori*
Helicobacter*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G*
Peptic Ulcer
Phenotype
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
Immunoglobulin G