Background: The -2518A/G polymorphism in the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) gene has been implicated in the susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB), but the results are not conclusive. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the -2518A/G polymorphism in the MCP-1 gene and the risk of tuberculosis by meta-analysis.
Methods: We searched Pubmed, Embase, CNKI and Wanfang databases, covering all studies until April 29(th), 2011. Statistical analyses were performed using the Revman4.2 and STATA10.0 software.
Results: A total of 5341 cases and 6075 controls in 13 case-control studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the GG homozygote carriers had a 67% increased risk of TB compared with the A allele carriers (GG vs. GA+AA: OR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.25-2.23, P = 0.0006). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant elevated risks were found in Asians and Latinos, but not in Africans (GG vs. GA+AA: OR = 1.79, 95%CI = 1.19-2.70 and P = 0.005 for Asians; OR = 2.15, 95%CI = 1.32-3.51 and P = 0.002 for Latinos; OR = 1.28, 95%CI = 0.45-3.64 and P = 0.65 for Africans).
Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that the -2518A/G polymorphism of MCP-1 gene would be a risk factor for TB in Asians and Latinos, while not in Africans.