Genes Related to Helicobacter Pylori Virulence

Abstract

Gastric cancer is a multifactorial disease in which interactions between the individual's genetic characteristics and the environment are absolutely important. Among the factors involved in gastric carcinogenesis, the infection caused by Helicobacter pylori is highlighted. However, not all the individuals infected by this bacterium develop gastric cancer, because this disease is related to factors bore by both host organism and  microorganism. Recent evidences have demonstrated that H. pylori strains are genotypic diverse, whose products start the inflammatory process by mediators, who can take the host organism to different inflammatory answer degrees, resulting in different pathological destinations. Some more virulent genotypes have already been described, like the vacA and cagA genes, but they are not sufficient to explain this association of this bacterium to gastrointestinal diseases, mainly those related to gastric cancer. Therefore, other genotypes are the focus of studies so that this deadlock can be explained, and data about these potential genes are constantly being introduced in the literature. This review aimed to compile the studies available so far about the H. pylori genes related to either its pathogenicity or its gastric diseases, primarily gastric cancer. It was observed that, despite numerous studies on the genes of H. pylori, there is no consensus regarding illnesses associated with these genotypes. In conclusion, there should be more studies on these H. pylori genes in order to uncover their relationship with gastrointestinal diseases, mainly with gastric cancer.