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

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the association of TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) and TNF-α(rs1800629) genes polymorphisms and TLR4mRNA levels with preterm birth. Methods:Hospital-based case-control study on women of Caucasoid morphological subtype ethnicityin Northern India. Inclusion criteria for cases women aged between 18-40 years with pretermbirth (<37 weeks gestation), and for controls women who delivered a term neonateconsecutive to an enrolled case. Three polymorphisms TLR4 (Asp299 Gly, Thr399 Ill) andTNF-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 levelswere found to be higher (P<0.001) in cases [(0.7 (0.04)] than in controls [(0.5 (0.04)]. Noassociation was found between TLR4 Asp299 Gly, TLR4 Thr399 Ill and TNF-α (-308G/A)with preterm birth. Conclusion: Increased TLR4 mRNA levels seem to be associated withpreterm birth, and can be investigated further as a potential biomarker for identifying womenat risk