INFLUENCE OF PEPSINOGEN GENE POLYMORPHISMS ON SERUM PEPSINOGEN

We identified pepsinogen C (PGC) gene polymorphisms by means of PCR, w hich amplified DNA in the region within the intron between exons 7 and 8, and by 6% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Six alleles were fou nd in a Japanese population. The frequencies of these alleles in 408 u nrelated Japanese individuals were 0.074, 0.026, 0.335, 0.237, 0.016 a nd 0.314, respectively. The serum pepsinogen II level significantly de creased in the order of the allele 6 homozygote, the allele 6 heterozy gote and the other genotypes (chi(2) = 7.850, D.F. = 2, p = 0.020). Th ese findings indicated that the genetic background of serum pepsinogen should be considered when screening for stomach cancer by this proced ure.