Abstract

Background: Cytokines are fundamental elements in mediating and stimulating the immune response against tuberculosis (TB). Growing evidence indicated that polymorphisms in the interleukin-17 (IL-17) A and F genes are implicated in TB. Objectives: This meta-analysis was aimed to re-evaluate and update the relationship between IL-17A rs2275913 G/A and IL17F rs763780 T/C polymorphisms and TB risk. Methods: Using inclusive searches of the PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Elsevier Science Direct, we identified outcome data from all articles estimating the association between IL-17 A and F polymorphisms and TB risk. Results: A total of 15 studies comprising 7130 patients and 7540 controls were included. Our pooled analysis demonstrated that the IL-17A rs2275913 G/A SNP was not associated with the risk of TB in overall, or in Asians and Caucasians, but it conferred resistance to TB in Latin Americans using allele (OR = 0.53), codominant (OR = 0.53 and 0.38), dominant (OR = 0.49) and recessive (OR = 0.46) inheritance models. For IL-17F rs763780 T/C, the pooled evidence indicated that this variation was a risk factor for TB in allele (C vs T) and dominant (TC+CC vs TT) models in overall (OR of 1.35) and among Asians (OR = 1.40), but not in Caucasians. Conclusion: In summary, our meta-analysis suggested that the IL-17A rs2275913 was a protective factor against TB, but -17F rs763780 T/C was a risk factor for TB. © 2017 Tuberculosis Association of India.