Helicobacter pylori infection and DNMT3a polymorphism are associated with the presence of premature coronary artery disease and subclinical atherosclerosis. Data from the GEA Mexican Study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The association between H. pylori infection and coronary artery disease (CAD) is well-known. Alterations in DNA methylation in CAD have been reported, which can be induced by H. pylori through the DNA demethylases (DNMTs). The objective was to analyze the association and interaction of H. pylori infection and DMNT3a gene polymorphisms with premature CAD (pCAD) and subclinical atherosclerosis (SA). METHODS: The study included 561 patients with pCAD, 318 subjects with SA, and 599 healthy controls. Antibodies against H. pylori and DNMT3a rs13420827, rs752208, and rs1550117 polymorphisms were determined. RESULTS: The pCAD group presented the highest seroprevalence of H. pylori infection (87.7%) compared to the SA (74.5%, p = 1 × 10-6) and the control group (63.1%, p = 7 × 10-23). A significant association was observed between H. pylori infection and pCAD (OR = 2.729, p = 1.0 × 10-6). The rs13420827 polymorphism was associated with a high risk of H. pylori infection in the whole population (padditive = 0.009, pdominant = 0.018, and pcodominant2 = 0.013) and in individuals with SA (padditive = 0.003, pdominant = 0.020, precessive = 0.013, and pcodominant2 = 0.005). The coexistence of H. pylori infection and the rs13420827GG genotype increases the risk of pCAD (pinteraction = 1.1 × 10-5). CONCLUSIONS: According to the model adjusted for more confounding variables, H. pylori infection was associated with almost three times the risk of developing pCAD. The rs13420827G allele was associated with an increased risk of H. pylori infection in the whole population and in individuals with SA. Individuals in whom H. pylori infection and the rs13420827GG genotype coexist are at increased risk of pCAD.