Meta-analysis of Interleukin-10 gene Polymorphisms and Tuberculosis Susceptibility: Insights from Recent Studies

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a universal health problem with significant morbidity and mortality. Understanding the genetic factors affecting TB susceptibility is crucial for effective prevention and treatment. Interleukin-10 (IL-10), a regulatory cytokine, may influence TB pathogenesis through genetic variations.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched to find studies on the relationship between IL-10 gene variants and tuberculosis. Relevant studies from 2016 to 2024 were identified through database searches. The selected case-control studies met the inclusion criteria. Software such as Review Manager was used to analyze quantitative data, with statistical significance set at p< 0.05. We calculated odds ratios and their respective confidence intervals to evaluate the associations.

Results: Nine studies examined IL-10 gene polymorphisms (rs1800871 and rs1800872) in TB susceptibility. The present study did not show a notable association between IL-10 gene polymorphisms and TB among all genetic models (allelic, homozygote, heterozygote, dominant, and recessive). The obtained p-value > 0.05 indicates an insignificant association between both gene polymorphisms of IL-10. An OR-1.13; 95% CI-0.85, 1.50 was obtained for the SNP rs1800871, whereas an OR-1.02; 95% CI-0.75, 1.40 was obtained for the SNP rs1800872.

Conclusion: Our meta-analysis revealed no significant association between IL-10 gene polymorphisms and TB susceptibility, suggesting that these variations may not significantly contribute to TB susceptibility. Further research with a larger sample size and diverse ethnicities is needed to explore additional genetic variations and their implications in TB pathogenesis.