title: Genetic diversity of TLR2, TLR4, and VDR loci and pulmonary tuberculosis in Moroccan patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2, 4, and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are central components of the innate and adaptive immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). TLR2, TLR4, and VDR polymorphisms were previously associated with tuberculosis (TB) and were here investigated as candidates for pulmonary TB (PTB) susceptibility in a Moroccan population group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genomic DNA from 343 PTB patients and 203 healthy controls were analyzed for 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in TLR2, TLR4, and VDR genes using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism and TaqMan SNP genotyping assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TLR2 +597 CT genotype was associated with protection against PTB (corrected p [pc] = 0.04; odds ratio (OR) = 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.45 - 0.94), and the TLR4 +7263 C allele was significantly associated with PTB susceptibility (pc = 0.04; OR = 1.63; CI = 1.06 - 2.57). The VDR [f,b,a,T] haplotype was found to confer protection (pc < 0.00001; OR = 0.18; CI = 0.09 - 0.35), while the TLR2 [-16934T,+597C,+1349T] haplotype seemed to be at risk (p = 0.03; OR = 1.52; CI = 1.01 - 2.30), but statistical significance was not reached. Finally, cross-analysis between polymorphisms of the three studied genes revealed significant interaction between TLR2 +597 and TLR4 +4434 SNPs towards protection against PTB (pc = 0.036), suggesting that the functionally relevant TLR4 +4434 SNP may act synergistically with TLR2 SNPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TLR2 and TLR4 interaction and a specific VDR haplotype influence protection against PTB in Moroccans patients.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Hygiene, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco. arjinaima@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Naima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arji
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busson
authors.forename: Ghali
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iraqi
authors.forename: Jamal Eddine
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bourkadi
authors.forename: Abdelaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benjouad
authors.forename: Abdellatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouayad
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariaselvam
authors.forename: Sofiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: Kahina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amokrane
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marzais
authors.forename: Wahid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boukouaci
authors.forename: Rajagopal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krishnamoorthy
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charron
authors.forename: Rajae
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El Aouad
authors.forename: Ryad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamouza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; C579457:VDR protein, human