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ObjectiveTuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Previous studies have reported that TB susceptibility can be caused by vitamin D deficiency, which is affected by polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. However, these results have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association between VDR polymorphisms and TB susceptibility.MethodsWe systematically searched for relevant literature in PubMed, Embase, and Medline databases through December 31st, 2022. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were made to ensure that HIV-negative population is the targeted subjects. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were then used to assess the strength of the association, and the quality of the included articles was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Potential sources of heterogeneity were evaluated based on subgroup and meta-regression analyses.ResultsIn our meta-analysis, we found that the FokI polymorphism in the VDR gene was associated with increased TB susceptibility in the allele and recessive genotype models (OR f vs. F = 1.235, 95%CI: 1.035–1.475; OR ff vs. Ff + FF = 1.317, 95%CI: 1.005–1.727. Further subgroup analysis based on ethnicity demonstrated the association with the risk of TB in all genotype models of the FokI polymorphism for Han population. Meta-regression analysis also indicated that ethnicity could be a potential source of heterogeneity in the FokI and BsmI polymorphisms in the VDR gene. However, publication year was another source of heterogeneity for the TaqI polymorphism.ConclusionIn summary, the FokI polymorphism in the VDR gene was found to increase the risk of TB in the HIV-negative population, both overall and in Asian populations. The findings presented in this paper could provide clues for preventing TB from the perspective of vitamin D supplementation, which is a controversial topic in the field of medicine and health.

Currently, Sanghuangporus vaninii, a large edible fungus of significant interest, is primarily utilized in its entirety for functional food. To unlock its potential as a health food, this study investigates its polysaccharide composition. We first analyzed the structural characteristics of the Sanghuangporus vaninii polysaccharide, then examined its therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice, identified the bioactivity of its acidic polysaccharide fraction (SVP-A-3), and investigated its anti-inflammatory mechanism. We purified SVP-A-3, which has a molecular weight of 3.3 kDa and primarily consists of Gal, Glc, Man and GlcA. The specific rotation degree of SVP-A-3 is +18°, and its structure is right-handed. In vivo, results indicated that SVP-A-3 reduced glandular loss and intestinal mucosal tissue damage in mouse colons and decreased the number of inflammatory factors in colon tissue. The expression of p-AKT, p-ERK1/2, p-JNK1/2, p-p38, and p-p65 was down-regulated in the colon of C57BL/6 mice treated with SVP-A-3. Its specific mechanism may be associated with the regulation of NF-κB, MAPK, and AKT signaling pathways. Furthermore, in this paper, we found that SVP-A-3 could modulate the intestinal microenvironment and could significantly increase the abundance of probiotic Anaerostipes, Lactobacillus and Muribaculaceae. We concluded that SVP-A-3 demonstrated superior anti-inflammatory effects in in vivo animal experiments and has high exploitation potential. Our results provide important structural information about SVP and provide the basis for their further development and application.