Impact of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism on susceptibility to tuberculosis infection in Indonesia

This study investigated the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in various ethnic groups in Indonesia. The study involved 267 participants divided into three groups: 99 healthy controls, 80 individuals with latent tuberculosis, and 88 with active tuberculosis. Four VDR polymorphisms (FokI, ApaI, BsmI, and TaqI) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The research comprehensively analyzes sociodemographic and genetic factors associated with PTB in Indonesia, focusing on three ethnic groups-Makassar, Bugis, and Toraja. Sociodemographic data (n=267) revealed a mean age of 34.43±11.81 years, with a higher prevalence of males (55.4%) and significant associations between PTB status and education level (p=0.006). Smoking was notably higher among active PTB patients (48.9%), emphasizing behavioral influences on disease prevalence. The genetic study (n=88 PTB, n=179 controls) highlighted significant associations of VDR gene polymorphisms with PTB. Specifically, the FokI CC genotype (p=0.014) and C allele (p<0.001) were more frequent in PTB patients, alongside the ApaI GT genotype (p<0.001) and BsmI GG genotype (p<0.001). The findings emphasize the multifactorial nature of PTB susceptibility, highlighting the roles of genetic variations, particularly in the VDR gene, and sociodemographic factors in influencing PTB risk in Indonesian populations.