Association of IL‐37 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to tuberculosis in Saudi subjects |
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| Authors: | Gamal Allam Imad AA Mohamed Khaled A Alswat Said H Abbadi Raad Nassif Bader J Alharthi Amre Nasr |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia;2. Immunology Section, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni‐Suef University, Beni‐Suef, Egypt;3. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt;4. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia;5. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismaileya, Egypt;6. Department of Pulmonary Medicine, King Faisal Hospital (KFH), Taif, Saudi Arabia;7. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, KSAU‐HS, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;8. King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;9. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al‐Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan |
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| Abstract: | Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide. IL‐37, a novel member of the IL‐1 family, has anti‐inflammatory activity. Various cytokine genes polymorphisms are reportedly associated with susceptibility to TB infection. However, an association between genetic variations in the IL‐37 gene and susceptibility to TB infection has not been investigated. The aim of this case‐control study was therefore to identify such an association in Saudi subjects, in which five single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL‐37 gene were assessed. Serum concentrations of IL‐37 were evaluated using ELISA, and genetic variants genotyped by multiplex PCR and ligase detection reaction. It was found that the C/C genotype of rs2723176 (–6962 A/C) occurs significantly more frequently in patients with active TB and that the C allele of this SNP is associated with TB. In addition, the C allele of rs2723176 SNP was associated with high circulating concentrations of IL‐37. However, the genotype and allele frequency of the other four SNPs (rs3811046, rs3811047, rs2723186 and rs2723187) were not significantly associated with TB infection. In conclusion, the present data suggest that rs2723176 SNP of IL‐37 is involved in the development of TB infection. Furthermore, high circulating concentrations of IL‐37 may have a negative effect on protective immunity against TB infection. |
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| Keywords: | IL‐37 gene polymorphisms Saudi population tuberculosis |
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