Influence of Genetic Polymorphism Towards Pulmonary Tuberculosis Susceptibility

Area of Science:

• Immunogenetics
• Human Genetics
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health threat.
• Host genetic factors play a crucial role in modulating immune responses and influencing susceptibility or resistance to TB.
• Previous studies have implicated various genetic markers, including human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA genes, in TB development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and summarize recent findings on genetic variants associated with susceptibility and resistance to tuberculosis.
• To highlight the role of host genetics in understanding TB pathogenesis and ethnic-specific variations.

Main Methods:

• Review of case-control studies, candidate-gene studies, family studies, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
• Analysis of meta-analysis findings, particularly focusing on HLA alleles and specific gene associations.
• Examination of genetic markers in diverse ethnic populations worldwide.

Main Results:

• Meta-analyses confirm the association of HLA-DRB1 alleles with TB susceptibility, especially in Asian populations.
• GWAS studies have identified associations between TB and genes such as ASAP1, AGMO, FOXP1, UBLCP1, and SNP rs932347C/T in various ethnic groups.
• Ethnic-specific associations for certain genetic variants, like HLA-DR2, are observed, indicating population-dependent genetic influences on TB risk.

Conclusions:

• Host genetic factors, including specific HLA and non-HLA gene variants, are significantly associated with tuberculosis susceptibility and resistance.
• These genetic variations can influence immune responses and disease outcomes, with notable ethnic-specific patterns.
• Continued research into host genetics offers potential for improved TB risk prediction and personalized therapeutic strategies.