Aims: A growing number of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). However, the results of these studies have been inconclusive. This study evaluated whether the SNPs rs4331426 and rs2057178, identified by GWAS, are associated with TB susceptibility.
Methods: We performed meta-analyses for rs4331426, based on eight case-control studies which included a total of 4988 TB cases and 9041 controls; and rs2057178, based on five case-control studies, including a total of 9400 TB cases and 14,459 controls.
Results: Our meta-analyses indicated that both rs4331426 and rs2057178 were associated with increased risk of TB (G vs. A: odds ratio [OR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.22 and A vs. G: OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.80-0.88, respectively), especially in an African subgroup. However, no significant TB association was found with rs4331426 in an Asian subgroup.
Conclusions: These meta-analyses indicate that rs4331426 and rs2057178 might play a role in the risk of developing TB, especially in Africans; however, rs4331426 might not play a significant role in the risk of developing TB in Asians.