Surfactant protein genetic marker alleles identify a subgroup of tuberculosis in a Mexican population

Pulmonary surfactant and its components are essential for normal lung funct ion and are involved in local host defense, Surfactant protein (SP)-A and S P-D bind to and modulate phagocytosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by macr ophages. Frequency comparisons of SP marker alleles in tuberculosis patient s and healthy control subjects (tuberculin-skin test positive or general po pulation) were performed, Regression analyses of the tuberculosis and the t uberculin-skin test positive groups revealed, on the basis of odds ratios, tuberculosis susceptibility (DA11_C and GATA_3) and protective (AAGG_2) mar ker alleles, Similarly, between tuberculosis patients and general populatio n control subjects, susceptibility 1A(3), 6A(4), and B1013_A and protective AAGG_1, and AAGG_7 marker alleles were observed, Moreover, interactions we re seen between alleles 6A(2) and 1A(3) (P = .0064) and between 1A(3) and B 1013_A (P = .036), The findings indicate a possible involvement of SP allel es in tuberculosis pathogenesis.