Association of TLR4 and TNF-a Gene Polymorphisms and TLR4 mRNA Levels in Preterm Birth in a Northern Indian Population

Indian Pediatr. 2019 Mar 15;56(3):202-204.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association of TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) and TNF-a (rs1800629) genes polymorphisms and TLR4mRNA levels with preterm birth.

Methods: Hospital-based case-control study on women of Caucasoid morphological subtype ethnicity in Northern India. Inclusion criteria for cases: women aged between 18-40 years with preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation), and for controls: women who delivered a term neonate consecutive to an enrolled case. Three polymorphisms TLR4 (Asp299 Gly, Thr399 Ill) and TNF-á (-308G/A) and TLR4 mRNA levels were compared between cases and controls.

Results: From 2012-2015, 559 cases and 559 controls were recruited. TLR4 mRNA levels were found to be higher (P<0.001) in cases [(0.7 (0.04)] than in controls [(0.5 (0.04)]. No association was found between TLR4 Asp299 Gly, TLR4 Thr399 Ill and TNF-a (-308G/A) with preterm birth.

Conclusions: Increased TLR4 mRNA levels seem to be associated with preterm birth, and can be investigated further as a potential biomarker for identifying women at risk.

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Inflammation
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Pregnancy
  • Premature Birth* / blood
  • Premature Birth* / epidemiology
  • Premature Birth* / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / blood*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / blood*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / genetics*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • TLR4 protein, human
  • TNF protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha