NRAMP1andVDRGene Polymorphisms in Susceptibility to Tuberculosis in Venezuelan Population

摘要

Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (Nramp1) and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are central components of the innate and adaptive immunity againstMycobacterium tuberculosis, and associations between susceptibility to tuberculosis and polymorphisms in the genesNRAMPandVDRhave been sought in geographically diverse populations. We investigated associations ofNRAMP1andVDRgene polymorphisms with susceptibility to TB in the Venezuelan population. The results suggest the absence of any association betweenVDRvariantsFokI, ApaI, andTaqIand susceptibility to tuberculosis. In contrast, theNRAMP1 3′UTRvariants were associated with susceptibility toM. tuberculosisinfection, as seen in the comparisons between TST+ and TST− controls, and also with progression to TB disease, as shown in the comparisons between TB patients and TST+ controls. This study confirms the previously described association of theNRAMP1 3′UTRpolymorphism withM. tuberculosisinfection and disease progression.