Interleukin-10 polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A large number of studies have shown that polymorphisms in the interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene are implicated in susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). However, the results are inconsistent and inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was performed to analyse the association between polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene and TB susceptibility. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies that referred to three polymorphisms (―1082G/A, ―819C/T and ―592A/C) were identified. No association was found between these three polymorphisms and TB risk in combined analyses: ―1082G/A (AA+AG vs. GG): OR 0.87, 95%CI 0.66― 1.14, P = 0.30; ―819C/T (TT+TC vs. CC): OR 1.02, 95%CI 0.92-1.14, P = 0.66; ―592A/C (CC+CA vs. AA): OR 0.99, 95%CI 0.88―1.11, P = 0.82. However, in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, European subjects with the ―1082(AA+GG) genotypes have a decreased risk of TB: OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.35-0.88, P = 0.01. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that the ―1082G/A polymorphism of the IL-10 gene could be a risk factor for TB in Europeans. Further studies with larger populations are required to assess the association between IL-10 polymorphisms and TB susceptibility.