Lack of association of toll-like receptor 2 rs3804100 polymorphism with paediatric tuberculosis in South Africa

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR 2) genetic polymorphisms are important factors that are involved in the development of clinical tuberculosis. In this study, a single nucleotide polymorphism of the immune response protein molecule, toll-like receptor 2 designated as rs3804100 involving T/C polymorphism was carried out by genotypic analysis of DNA obtained from blood samples of the paediatric population in South Africa consisting of 151 cases and 82 controls for tuberculosis. Genotypic analysis of tuberculosis cases for T/C rs3804100 polymorphism showed genetic frequency of 5% for TT, 90% for CT and 5% for CC genotypes while those of controls were 2% for TT, 91% for CT and 7% for CC genotypes. Statistical analysis of the polymorphic genotypes in cases and controls gave no association with the disease.  The result from this study showed that this T/C single nucleotide polymorphism of TLR 2 was not associated with the development of tuberculosis (p= 0.34) in the paediatric population.   Key words: Tuberculosis, toll-like receptor 2, single nucleotide polymorphisms.