Ethnic groups difference of SLC11A1 gene polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility among Asian, African and European descent

Objective To provide a quantitative summary estimate on the association of SLCllA1 gene polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility among Asian, African and European descent. Methods We searched databases （Medline, Pubmed and Ovid） from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 2009 using ＂gene＂ or ＂SLC11 A1 ＂or＂ NRAMP1＂, in combination with ＂tuberculosis＂, also performed a manual search of citations from relevant original studies and review articles, or corresponded with authors. Results The pooled ORs for 3＇ UTR, D543N, INT4 and 5＇ （GT） n loci were 1.61 （95% CI ：1.31 - 1.98, P 〈 0.01）, 1.68（95% CI ：1.34 -2.11, P 〈0.01）, 1.08 （95% CI ：0.85 - 1.37, P =0.54） and 1.86 （95% CI ：1.45 -2.39, P 〈0.01）in Asian descent, 1.20（95% CI：0.68 -1.68, P =0.28）, 1.69 （95% CI：1.14-2.50, P =0.01）, 1.49（95% CI：1.17-1.91, P =0.01） and 1.31（95% CI： 1.05 - 1.64, P =0.02） in African subjects, 1.74（95% CI ：0.64-4.75, P =0.28）, 1.79（95% CI ： 0.72 -4.47, P =0.21）, 0.87（95% CI ：0.61 -1.22, P =0.41） and 1.02（95% CI ：0.35 -2.99, P = 0.97）in European origins. Conclusions Because polymorphisms at the 4 loci had no statistically significant association between the SLCllA1 variants and susceptibility to tuberculosis in the European descent, while they showed statistically significant association in the Asian subject （except the INT4 vari- ant）, the African subject （except the 3＇UTR variant）, there are ethnic groups difference of SLCllA1 gene polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility among Asian, African and European descent. Key words: Polymorphism （Genetics）;  SLCllA1;  Tuberculosis;  Meta analysis;  Ethnic groups