CD14 Gene Variants and Susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori-Associated Gastropathies in Iraqi Patients

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the gastric mucosa and is implicated in a range of gastrointestinal disorders.

From September 2024 to January 2025, a cross-sectional study was conducted at the Al-Hakim General Hospital/Digestive System Center in Iraq. 50 patients and 25 healthy persons (35 females and 40 males) aged 21 to 70 years were among the 75 specimens collected.

Among the 75 participants, 50 were gastric patients and 25 were controls. All patients tested positive for H. pylori using the one-step Ab/Ag test, with 46% showing positive antibodies and 42% positive antigens. CD14 levels were markedly higher in patients (120.8 pg/ml) compared with controls (12.3 pg/ml). However, the genotyping of CD14 revealed three genotypes: CC, CT, and TT represented (16%, 60% and 24%) respectively in patients compared with the control group, where the frequencies were (72%, 20% and 8%) respectively. The CT genotype was more common among patients suffering from gastropathies, while the CC genotype was more frequent in healthy controls. Serum sCD14 levels were higher in TT and CT carriers compared with CC (160.7 ± 0.43: 120.9 ± 47.44 vs. 80.9 ± 3.59; P = 0.003**).

The increased prevalence of CT and TT genotypes among patients, alongside elevated sCD14 levels, suggests that the T allele may enhance inflammatory responses and increase susceptibility to gastropathies.

These findings indicate that CD14 polymorphisms are significantly associated with H. pylori-related gastropathies in the Iraqi population (P < 0.05).