Interferon‐γ Receptor‐1 Gene Polymorphism in Tuberculosis Patients from Croatia

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Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that the interleukin‐12/interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) axis is important in mycobacterial infection susceptibility. Using an intronic (CA)n polymorphic microsatellite marker within the IFN‐γ receptor‐1 (IFNGR1) gene, we have compared the allelic frequencies of this marker in hospitalized tuberculosis patients (n = 120) with that of controls (n = 87) from Rijeka, Croatia. We identified 13 (CA)n alleles in the tuberculosis patients, whereas only 10 were found in the controls. A significant difference between one allelic marker and the control group was observed (P = 0.02, 95% confidence interval 0.14–0.94), suggesting a possible protective association. In contrast, several other allelic markers showed a trend towards association with the disease. We also found a trend towards an increased frequency in homozygosity of one allelic marker in patients (11.7%) as compared with controls (4.6%). We conclude that there is no evidence for disease association of the IFNGR1 gene marker in Mendelian‐type (single‐allele) inheritance. However, our results also suggest that unidentified allelic variations in the IFNGR1 gene might elevate or decrease the risk in this ethnic population, as a part of the multigenic predisposition to tuberculosis.

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