NRAMP1/SLC11A1 gene polymorphisms and host susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. leprae in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Genetic host factor may play an important role in controlling mycobacterial infections such as tuberculosis and leprosy. Natural resistance associated macrophage protein1 (Nramp1, alias Slc11a1) gene has been suggested to an associated gene of the host susceptibility to mycobacterium infection. To determine the association of Nramp1/Slc11a1 with tuberculosis and leprosy, we analyzed using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphisms three variants (D543N, 3'UTR and INT4) of Nramp1/Slc11a1 gene in 58 tuberculosis patients (mean age, 34.0 +/- 13.1), 42 leprosy patients (mean age, 35.0 +/- 14.3) and 198 healthy controls (mean age, 32.0 +/- 12.9) from South Sulawesi, Indonesia. We observed an association of INT4 polymorphism with paucibacillary type of leprosy (p = 0.032, 1df, OR = 2.975, CI = 1.057-8.373), but not to multibacillary type (p = 0.173, 1df, OR = 2.248, CI = 0.682-7.404). No significant association was found in the three variants with tuberculosis in this population.