Correspondence to Author:  Menberu Wubete¹, Yetimwork Aleka², DebasuDamtie², Yeshambel Belyhun², Meaza Zewudie³,Mahder Girma¹, Dagmawi Woldesenbet⁴, MulualemLemma² 

1. Department of Medical Laboratory sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire dawa University, Dire daw, Ethiopia.
2. Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Ethiopia.
3. Armaur Hanssen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
4. Department of Medical Laboratory sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachamo University, Hossana, Ethiopia.

Abstract:

Background
Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Polymorphisms in the TLR-2 gene have a diverse influence on the innate immune response and may result in the susceptibility of active pulmonary tuberculosis diseases among particular families, ethnicities, and races. However, the genetic variation in TLR2 in the susceptibility to PTB in our population has not been previously investigated. Thus, this study assesses the association of TLR-2 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to PTB in Northwest Ethiopian population.
Material and method
A case-control study was conducted from March 5, 2022, to March 30, 2023. A total of 101 study participants were recruited in TB clinic using a convenient sampling technique. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires via face-toface interviews and reviewing medical records, respectively. Three milliliter of venous blood sample was collected from each participant. The DNA was extracted using an automated Maxwell® 16 kit and the gene variants in TLR-2 (G2258A and T597C) genes were genotyped using a tetra allele refractory mutation system-based PCR. The data were coded, entered into Epi-Data Manager 4.6, and exported into SPSS 25 statistical software for analysis. A binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to determine the association between TLR-2 gene polymorphisms and PTB. A p-value less than 0.05 were considered significant.
Results
Our findings showed that the CC (mutated) genotype in TLR2 T597C was overrepresented and significantly associated with PTB as compared to healthy control groups (CC; AOR = 4.54; p = 0.028). The C allele of T597C polymorphism was also associated significantly with PTB as compared to LTBI (C; AOR = 2.77, p = 0.017) and healthy controls (C; AOR = 3.4, p = 0.001). While the gene variant G2258A of the TLR2 gene was not detected in our study participants.
Conclusions
Our study indicated that TLR2 T597C gene variants are significantly associated with PTB susceptibility in our study groups. To confirm our findings and comprehend the mechanism of these gene variants of TLR polymorphism in PTB, future investigations in a larger sample are required.

Citation:

Menberu Wubete. Association of TLR-2 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to Pulmonary Tuberculosis at Northwest Ethiopian population, a case control study. Journal of Immunology 2024.