• Yung-Hsiang Hsu, Chaio-Wei Chen, H Sunny Sun, Ruwen Jou, Jen-Jyh Lee, and Ih-Jen Su.
• Department of Pathology, Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.
• J Formos Med Assoc. 2006 May 1; 105 (5): 363369363-9.

Background/PurposeThe human homologue of mice natural-resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp 1) gene, NRAMP 1, has been reported to play a role in susceptibility to tuberculosis in humans. The aboriginal population in Taiwan has a five-fold higher prevalence of tuberculosis than people of Han ethnicity. Whether genetic factors such as NRAMP 1 polymorphism play a role in the prevalence of tuberculosis in Taiwanese aboriginals should be clarified.MethodsNRAMP 1 polymorphism was studied using a case-control design of patients with tuberculosis, including subjects of Han (Hans) and aboriginal ethnicity in Hualien, eastern Taiwan. The polymorphisms of NRAMP 1 at loci INT4, D543N, 77-385C/T, 3-UTR (CAAA) deletion and 5-(CA)n microsatellite markers were assessed by polymerase chain reaction on tissue DNA isolated from 105 aborigines and 110 Hans with tuberculosis. Comparable numbers of ethnically-matched controls were studied simultaneously.ResultsTwo NRAMP 1 polymorphisms, INT4 and 5-(CA)n, were significantly associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis in aboriginals (p = 0.0070 and p = 0.0031, respectively). However, no association was detected at the five loci of NRAMP 1 polymorphisms among Hans (p > 0.08).ConclusionGenetic variation in NRAMP 1 may affect susceptibility to and increase risk for tuberculosis in Taiwanese aboriginals. Although environmental factors play an important role in tuberculosis infection, genetic factors such as NRAMP 1 polymorphism may also contribute to the high prevalence of tuberculosis in Taiwanese aboriginals.

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