Association between Interleukin-18-137G/C Gene Polymorphisms and Tuberculosis Risk in Chinese Population: A Meta-Analysis

This study was to investigate the relationship between IL-18-137G/C polymorphism and TB risk by meta-analysis. The literatures about the IL-18-137G/C polymorphism and risk of tuberculosis were selected from four English databases and four Chinese databases. Data were extracted from the studies by two independent reviewers. Statistical analysis was executed using Revman 5.3 and Stata 11.0 software. A total of 5 studies with 558 TB patient and 720 controls were included in this meta-analysis, The results showed that-137G/C polymorphisms in the IL-18 gene were associated with TB risk in china when taking comparisons of the G allele vs. C allele (OR=1.49, 95% CI=1.21-1.84, P=0.0002), GG vs. GC+X.06, P=0.0003). It was also significant in the subgroup analysis of Chinese adults (G allele vs. C allele: OR=1.32, 95%=CI 1.03-1.70, P=0.003; GG vs. GC+CC: OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.01-1.91, P=0.04) and Chinese children (G allele vs. C allele: OR=1.91, 95% CI=1.31-2.78, P=0.0008; GG vs. GC+CC: OR=2.02, 95% CI=1.33-3.07, P=0.0010). This study provides the evidence that the allele G of IL-18-137G/C polymorphism was closely associated with TB risk in China.