Obesity-associated gene FTO rs9939609 polymorphism in relation to the risk of tuberculosis.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is known to affect cell-mediated immune responses. Recent studies have revealed that genetic polymorphisms in the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene are related to human obesity. We hypothesize that this gene may also play a role in the risk of immune-related infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.


METHODS
This case-control study included 1625 pulmonary tuberculosis cases and 1570 unaffected controls recruited from the Jiangsu province in China. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs9939609 and rs8050136, in the FTO gene were genotyped using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the unconditional logistic regression model.


RESULTS
We observed a significant association between the genetic polymorphism rs9939609 and tuberculosis risk. Compared with the common genotype TT, individuals carrying AA had a significantly increased risk, with an OR of 3.77 (95% CI: 2.26-6.28). After adjusting for potential confounders, the relationship remains significant. An additive model showed that carriers of an allele A had a 26% increased risk of tuberculosis compared with the T allele (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08-1.48). Compared with the common haplotype rs9939609T-rs8050136C, the haplotype rs9939609A-rs8050136C was related to an increased risk of tuberculosis (OR = 6.09, 95% CI: 3.27-12.34).


CONCLUSIONS
The FTO polymorphism rs9939609 is associated with a risk of pulmonary tuberculosis in the Chinese population.
Yan
Y
Feng
Fengliang
F
Wang
Hongqiu
H
Pan
Sangsang
S
Qiu
Jieqiong
J
Lü
Liang
L
Wu
Jianming
J
Wang
Cheng
C
Lu
D000483:Alleles; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000235:genetics*
D011506:Proteins; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human