Genetic Variation in the TAS2R38 Bitter Taste Receptor and Gastric Cancer Risk in Koreans.

Jeong-Hwa Choi,Il Ju Choi,Keun Won Ryu,Young-Woo Kim,Jeongseon Kim,Jeonghee Lee

doi:10.1038/srep26904

Abstract

The human TAS2R38 gene encodes a bitter taste receptor that regulates the bitterness perception and differentiation of ingested nutritional/poisonous compounds in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. TAS2R38 gene variants are associated with alterations in individual sensitivity to bitter taste and food intake; hence, these genetic variants may modify the risk for diet-related diseases, including cancer. However, little is known about the association between TAS2R38 polymorphisms and gastric cancer susceptibility. The present case-control study examined the influence of TAS2R38 polymorphisms on food intake and determined whether they predict gastric cancer risk in Koreans. A total of 1,580 subjects, including 449 gastric cancer cases, were genotyped for TAS2R38 A49P, V262A, I296V and diplotypes. Dietary data were analysed to determine the total consumption of energy, fibre, vegetables, fruits, sweets, fats, alcohol and cigarettes. TAS2R38 diplotype was not associated with food, alcohol or cigarette consumption, either independent or dependent of gastric cancer phenotype. However, the PAV/AVI diplotype significantly increased gastric cancer risk (adjusted odds ratio: 1.513; 95% confidence interval: 1.148–1.994) independent of dietary intake. Findings suggest that TAS2R38 may be associated with the risk for gastric cancer in Koreans, although the TAS2R38 diplotype did not influence dietary intake.

Highlights

Taste sensitivity plays a central role in individual dietary behaviour
The present study examined whether TAS2R38 genetic variants influence dietary intake and whether they are associated with the risk of gastric cancer in Koreans
The findings showed that the TAS2R38 diplotype did not predict the dietary intake of the examined foods, alcohol consumption or tobacco smoking, regardless of gastric cancer phenotype

Summary

Introduction

Taste sensitivity plays a central role in individual dietary behaviour. Differential taste sensitivity leads to differing attraction to a variety of foods; it may influence consumption[1]. Human taste consists of five major categories (sweet, sour, salty, umami and bitter), of which bitterness is a key determinant for the acceptance and/or rejection of foods, such as bitter-tasting vegetables, alcohol and sweets[2,3,4] For this reason, it has been hypothesized that differential bitter taste sensitivity may contribute to the risk for diet-related health outcomes, such as cancer[5,6]. Earlier studies demonstrated that TAS2R38 diplotype is associated with the consumption of bitter foods, cruciferous vegetables (high in a group of thiourea-containing compounds), and alcohol as well as blood folate concentrations[5,9,14,15,16]. Given the taste sensitivity-diet-disease risk hypothesis, differential taste sensitivity due to TAS2R38 genetic variants may influence dietary intake and modify the risk for gastric cancer. The study investigated whether TAS2R38 variants are associated with the risk for gastric cancer either dependent or independent of dietary intake

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