Association Between Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Polymorphisms and Ischemic Stroke Susceptibility: A Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Neurology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Epidemiological studies suggest a link between transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) gene and ischemic stroke (IS) risk, but findings are inconsistent.
• Investigating the association between specific TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms and IS susceptibility is crucial for understanding stroke etiology.

Approach:

• A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted on 19 case-control studies examining TGF-β1 polymorphisms (rs1800468, rs1800469, rs1800470) and IS risk.
• Quantitative analyses using odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were performed across five genetic models.
• In silico analysis explored potential impacts on secondary structure and minimum free energy (MFE).

Key Points:

• A marginal association was observed between the TGF-β1 rs1800469 C>T polymorphism and IS risk (OR=1.12, P=0.05).
• No significant associations were found for rs1800468 G>A and rs1800470 T>C polymorphisms with IS risk in overall and stratified analyses.
• In silico analysis revealed no significant changes in secondary structure or MFE for the studied polymorphisms.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence suggests that common TGF-β1 polymorphisms are not significantly associated with ischemic stroke susceptibility.
• The findings highlight the need for cautious interpretation of previous epidemiological data and underscore the complexity of genetic contributions to IS.