Role of TLR8 in Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Author Information
Author(s): Sonia Davila, Martin L. Hibberd, Ranjeeta Hari Dass, Hazel E. E. Wong, Edhyana Sahiratmadja, Carine Bonnard, Bachti Alisjahbana, Jeffrey Szeszko, Yanina Balabanova, Francis Drobniewski, Reinout van Crevel, Esther van de Vosse, Sergey Nejentsev, Tom H. M. Ottenhoff, Mark Seielstad
Primary Institution: Genome Institute of Singapore
Hypothesis
Does genetic variation in the TLR8 gene influence susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis?
Conclusion
The study provides evidence that TLR8 gene polymorphisms are associated with increased susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis in males across different populations.
Supporting Evidence
- Four TLR8 polymorphisms were associated with TB susceptibility in males.
- The association was replicated in a Russian cohort.
- TLR8 transcript levels were significantly up-regulated during active TB.
- Increased TLR8 protein expression was observed in macrophages after infection.
Takeaway
Some people get sick from tuberculosis while others don't, and this study found that a specific gene, TLR8, might be a reason why.
Methodology
The study involved genotyping SNPs in TB patients and controls, followed by expression analysis of TLR8 in blood samples.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to population stratification was addressed, but residual confounding cannot be completely ruled out.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on male subjects, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to females.
Participant Demographics
The study included 375 Indonesian TB patients and 1,837 Russian TB patients, with a majority being male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.007
Confidence Interval
1.2–2.7
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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