Polymorphisms of interferon-γ and interferon-γ receptor 1 genes and pulmonary tuberculosis in Koreans

Background and objective: Many genetic variations are thought to be risk factors for the development of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The association of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IFN-γ receptor 1 (IFN-γR1) gene polymorphisms with pulmonary TB is controversial. This study examined the association between IFN-γ and IFN-γR1 gene polymorphisms and pulmonary TB among Koreans. Methods: Eighty patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB and 80 controls were studied. Polymorphisms of the IFN-γ gene at position +874 were determined using the amplification refractory mutation system PCR assay, and the IFN-γR1 gene was genotyped at positions −611, −270, −56 and +95 employing matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using genomic DNA. Results: The genotype and allele frequencies of the IFN-γ and IFN-γR1 gene polymorphisms did not differ significantly between the patients with pulmonary TB and controls. Conclusions: The IFN-γ and IFN-γR1 gene polymorphisms do not appear to be responsible for host susceptibility to pulmonary TB in the Korean population.