In summary, we show an association of SNP TLR8rs3764880 with PTB in the Moldavian male population, providing support to previous studies conducted on other populations.
The objectives of this study were to determine whether TLR8 and TLR9 SNPs were associated with the development of latent TB infection (LTBI) and the subsequent pulmonary TB (PTB) in a Chinese Han population.
The results demonstrated that the frequency of the TLR8-129C allele was higher in male patients with pulmonary TB than in healthy controls (22.9% vs. 6.8%, p < 0.001).
The frequencies of the GG genotype of SNP rs7873784 in TLR4 (OR = 2.136; 95% CI: 1.312-3.478) and the CC genotype of rs3764879 in TLR8 (OR = 1.982; 95% CI: 1.292-3.042) were also significantly higher in the PTB group than in the HC group.
Toll-like receptor (TLR) sensors such as TLR2, TLR4, TLR8, and TLR9 are known to play a pivotal role in PTB via modulating sensor expression and/or effector responses.
Taken together, our results provide evidence, for the first time, of a role for the TLR8 gene in susceptibility to pulmonary TB across different populations.