Genetic polymorphisms of MBL2 and tuberculosis susceptibility: a meta-analysis of 22 case-control studies

Abstract

Introduction: The association of mannose-binding lectin gene (MBL2) polymorphisms with tuberculosis susceptibility was inconclusive. In this study, a meta-analysis of 22 case-control studies was carried out to assess the effect of MBL2 polymorphisms on tuberculosis risk.

Material and methods: A search was performed in Embase, PubMed and Web of Science up to Sep 30, 2015. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used to assess the association. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 12.0 software.

Results: rs1800451 was associated with a decreased tuberculosis risk in the allele model (C vs. A: OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.86-1.00, p = 0.050). In analyses stratified by ethnicity, rs7096206 (C/G: OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.10-1.57, p = 0.003; GG vs. GC + CC: OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.56-0.85, p < 0.001) and A/O (O/A: OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.10-1.64, p = 0.004) were associated with tuberculosis risk in Asians, A/O (AA vs. AO + OO: OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51-0.99, p = 0.041) and rs1800451 (AC vs. AA + CC: OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.27-5.74, p = 0.010) were associated with tuberculosis risk in Americans, and rs1800451 (C/A: OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86-0.99, p = 0.035) was associated with tuberculosis risk in Africans. Additionally, rs1800450 (B/A: OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.25-0.72, p = 0.001) was associated with tuberculosis risk in Europeans.

Conclusions: The MBL2 rs1800451 polymorphism is associated with decreased TB risk in the general population, and A/O, rs7096206, rs1800450 and rs1800451 are likely to be associated with the risk for some specific ethnic groups.

Keywords: gene polymorphism; susceptibility; tuberculosis.

Figure 1

Flowchart for study selection

Figure 2

Forest plot of tuberculosis risk associated with MBL2 rs7096206 polymorphism (A – allele comparison: C allele vs. G allele. B – recessive comparison: GG vs. GC + CC)

Figure 3

Forest plot of tuberculosis risk associated with MBL2 rs1800450 polymorphism (allele comparison: B allele vs. A allele)

Figure 4

Forest plot of tuberculosis risk associated with MBL2 rs1800451 polymorphism (A – allele comparison: C allele vs. A allele. B – codominant comparison: AC vs. AA + CC)

Figure 5

Forest plot of tuberculosis risk associated with MBL2 exon 1 polymorphisms. A – Comparison of the MBL2 exon 1 polymorphisms allele comparison (O allele vs. A allele) with tuberculosis risk. B – Comparison of the MBL2 exon 1 polymorphisms recessive comparison (AA vs. AO + OO) with tuberculosis risk

Figure 6

Begg’s funnel plot analysis to detect publication bias in eligible studies. Each point represents a separate study for the indicated association. Log [OR], natural logarithm of OR. Horizontal line means effect size. A – AO, B – rs1800450, C – rs1800451, D – rs5030737, E – rs7095891, F – rs7096206, G – rs11003125