Analysis of eight genes modulating interferon gamma and human genetic susceptibility to tuberculosis : a case-control association study
Date
2010-06
Authors
Moller, Marlo
Nebel, Almut
Van Helden, Paul D.
Schreiber, Stefan
Hoal, Eileen G.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Interferon gamma is a major macrophage-activating cytokine during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative pathogen of tuberculosis, and its role has been well established in animal models and in humans. This cytokine is produced by activated T helper 1 cells, which can best deal with intracellular pathogens such as M. tuberculosis. Based on the hypothesis that genes which regulate interferon gamma may influence tuberculosis susceptibility, we investigated polymorphisms in eight candidate genes.
Methods: Fifty-four polymorphisms in eight candidate genes were genotyped in over 800 tuberculosis cases and healthy controls in a population-based case-control association study in a South African population. Genotyping methods used included the SNPlex Genotyping System™, capillary electrophoresis of fluorescently labelled PCR products, TaqMan® SNP genotyping assays or the amplification mutation refraction system. Single polymorphisms as well as haplotypes of the variants were tested for association with TB using statistical analyses.
Results: A haplotype in interleukin 12B was nominally associated with tuberculosis (p = 0.02), but after permutation testing, done to assess the significance for the entire analysis, this was not globally significant. In addition a novel allele was found for the interleukin 12B D5S2941 microsatellite.
Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of using larger sample sizes when attempting validation of
previously reported genetic associations. Initial studies may be false positives or may propose a stronger genetic effect than subsequently found to be the case.
Description
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/
The original publication is available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/
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Citation
Moller, M. et al. 2010. Analysis of eight genes modulating interferon gamma and human genetic susceptibility to tuberculosis: a case-control association study. BMC Infectious Diseases, 10:154, doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-10-154.