A gB nanoparticle vaccine elicits a protective neutralizing antibody response against EBV.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a global public health concern, as it is known to cause multiple diseases while also being etiologically associated with a wide range of epithelial and lymphoid malignancies. Currently, there is no available prophylactic vaccine against EBV. gB is the EBV fusion protein that mediates viral membrane fusion and participates in host recognition, making it critical for EBV infection in both B cells and epithelial cells. Here, we present a gB nanoparticle, gB-I53-50 NP, that displays multiple copies of gB. Compared with the gB trimer, gB-I53-50 NP shows improved structural integrity and stability, as well as enhanced immunogenicity in mice and non-human primate (NHP) preclinical models. Immunization and passive transfer demonstrate a robust and durable protective antibody response that protects humanized mice against lethal EBV challenge. This vaccine candidate demonstrates significant potential in preventing EBV infection, providing a possible platform for developing prophylactic vaccines for EBV.

Circulating miRNA-1-3p as Biomarker of Accelerated Sarcopenia in Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: While sarcopenia is an important clinical finding in individuals diagnosed with chronic heart failure (CHF), efforts to identify a reliable biomarker capable of predicting the overall muscular and functional decline in CHF patients have been unsuccessful to date. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to study the diagnostic utility of MicroRNA (miRNA)-1-3p as a predictor of sarcopenia status in individuals diagnosed with CHF. Methods: In total, 80 individuals with heart failure exhibiting a left ventricular ejection fraction < 50% were enrolled in this study. All patients were analyzed to assess miR-1-3p expression levels, with body composition being evaluated through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and sarcopenia being defined based on the sum of appendicular lean muscle mass (ALM) divided by height in meters squared and handgrip strength (HGS). In addition, the activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was evaluated in these individuals. Results: In total, 40 of the enrolled patients (50%) exhibited sarcopenia. Sarcopenic patients presented with increased miR-1-3p expression levels as compared to non-sarcopenic individuals (1.69 ± 0.132 vs. 1.22 ± 0.106; p < 0.05). With respect to sarcopenic indices, appendicular skeletal mass index was most strongly correlated with miR-1-3p expression, which was also strongly correlated with HGS. High levels of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway components were expressed in sarcopenic individuals, highlighting a significant relationship between miR-1-3p activity and signaling through this pathway. Moreover, miR-1-3p was identified as a specific marker for sarcopenia in individuals with CHF. Conclusions: These results suggest that circulating miR-1-3p levels are related to Akt/mTOR pathway activation and can offer valuable insight into the overall physical capacity and muscular integrity of CHF patients as a predictor of sarcopenia. (Rev Invest Clin. 2022;74(5):276-83).

Circulating miRNA-1-3p as Biomarker of Accelerated Sarcopenia in Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Heart Failure

ABSTRACT Background: While sarcopenia is an important clinical finding in individuals diagnosed with chronic heart failure (CHF), efforts to identify a reliable biomarker capable of predicting the overall muscular and functional decline in CHF patients have been unsuccessful to date. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to study the diagnostic utility of MicroRNA (miRNA)-1-3p as a predictor of sarcopenia status in individuals diagnosed with CHF. Methods: In total, 80 individuals with heart failure exhibiting a left ventricular ejection fraction < 50% were enrolled in this study. All patients were analyzed to assess miR-1-3p expression levels, with body composition being evaluated through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and sarcopenia being defined based on the sum of appendicular lean muscle mass (ALM) divided by height in meters squared and handgrip strength (HGS). In addition, the activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was evaluated in these individuals. Results: In total, 40 of the enrolled patients (50%) exhibited sarcopenia. Sarcopenic patients presented with increased miR-1-3p expression levels as compared to non-sarcopenic individuals (1.69 ± 0.132 vs. 1.22 ± 0.106; p < 0.05). With respect to sarcopenic indices, appendicular skeletal mass index was most strongly correlated with miR-1-3p expression, which was also strongly correlated with HGS. High levels of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway components were expressed in sarcopenic individuals, highlighting a significant relationship between miR-1-3p activity and signaling through this pathway. Moreover, miR-1-3p was identified as a specific marker for sarcopenia in individuals with CHF. Conclusion: These results suggest that circulating miR-1-3p levels are related to Akt/mTOR pathway activation and can offer valuable insight into the overall physical capacity and muscular integrity of CHF patients as a predictor of sarcopenia.

The Status and Prospects of Epstein-Barr Virus Prophylactic Vaccine Development.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpesvirus that is common among the global population, causing an enormous disease burden. EBV can directly cause infectious mononucleosis and is also associated with various malignancies and autoimmune diseases. In order to prevent primary infection and subsequent chronic disease, efforts have been made to develop a prophylactic vaccine against EBV in recent years, but there is still no vaccine in clinical use. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global cooperation in vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2 provide insights for next-generation antiviral vaccine design and opportunities for developing an effective prophylactic EBV vaccine. With improvements in antigen selection, vaccine platforms, formulation and evaluation systems, novel vaccines against EBV are expected to elicit dual protection against infection of both B lymphocytes and epithelial cells. This would provide sustainable immunity against EBV-associated malignancies, finally enabling the control of worldwide EBV infection and management of EBV-associated diseases.

Rapid Development of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Receptor-Binding Domain Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Vaccine Candidates.

The coronavirus disease pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus resulted in economic losses and threatened human health worldwide. The pandemic highlights an urgent need for a stable, easily produced, and effective vaccine. SARS-CoV-2 uses the spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) to bind its cognate receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and initiate membrane fusion. Thus, the RBD is an ideal target for vaccine development. In this study, we designed three different RBD-conjugated nanoparticle vaccine candidates, namely, RBD-Ferritin (24-mer), RBD-mi3 (60-mer), and RBD-I53-50 (120-mer), via covalent conjugation using the SpyTag-SpyCatcher system. When mice were immunized with the RBD-conjugated nanoparticles (NPs) in conjunction with the AddaVax or Sigma Adjuvant System, the resulting antisera exhibited 8- to 120-fold greater neutralizing activity against both a pseudovirus and the authentic virus than those of mice immunized with monomeric RBD. Most importantly, sera from mice immunized with RBD-conjugated NPs more efficiently blocked the binding of RBD to ACE2 in vitro, further corroborating the promising immunization effect. Additionally, the vaccine has distinct advantages in terms of a relatively simple scale-up and flexible assembly. These results illustrate that the SARS-CoV-2 RBD-conjugated nanoparticles developed in this study are a competitive vaccine candidate and that the carrier nanoparticles could be adopted as a universal platform for a future vaccine development.

Quantitative analysis of serum-based IgG agalactosylation for tuberculosis auxiliary diagnosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of mortality worldwide, especially in developing countries. However, effective means for TB diagnosis, especially for bacillus-negative (Bn) TB laboratory diagnosis, are urgently needed. In the present study, serum IgG from each tuberculosis patients and healthy controls was purified using affinity chromatography. The samples were then analyzed using mass spectrometry (MS) and ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC) methods. We quantitatively assessed the changes of serum IgG galactosylation in 567 human serum samples including 377 pulmonary TB patients and 190 healthy donors (HDs). We found significantly more agalactosylated (G0) vs monogalactosylated (G1) and digalactosylated (G2) N-glycans of IgG in TB patients, including smear-negative TB patients, than in HDs. The detection rate of TB diagnostic performance by MS for IgG-Gal ratio G0/(G1 + G2 × 2) is 90.48% for bacillus-positive (Bp) and 73.16% for Bn TB patients. Further, combination of MS method with other routine laboratory TB diagnostic methods significantly increased the detection rate to 91.01%-98.39%. Similar results were observed in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection mouse models. The decrease in galactosylation of IgG in TB patients was also qualitatively confirmed using specific lectin blot assay. Using the above techniques, we can discriminate the content of IgG G0 with terminal N-acetylglucosamine and IgG-Gal ratio G0/(G1 + G2 × 2) between TB patients and HDs. Our data suggest that quantitative analysis of serum-based IgG-Gal ratio G0/(G1 + G2 × 2) could be used for TB auxiliary diagnosis with high effectiveness and feasibility and its combination with other routine laboratory TB diagnostic methods could remarkably improve the detection rate.

Superlubricity between a silicon tip and graphite enabled by the nanolithography-assisted nanoflakes tribo-transfer.

Superlubricity between a cone-shaped (sharp) silicon tip and graphite remains a challenge in the nanotribology field. In this paper, an efficient method of achieving superlubricity between a cone-shaped silicon tip and graphite was proposed. Graphite nanoflakes were transferred onto the silicon tip by repeatedly rubbing against the scratches produced by nanolithography on a graphite surface. The superlubricity between the graphite nanoflakes-wrapped tip and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was attained, and the friction coefficient was reduced to 0.0007. At low normal loads, the frictional force was small and showed a strong correlation with the sliding angle, but as the normal load increased, this dependence gradually decreased. It was firstly found that the transferred graphite nanoflakes on the contact zone of the silicon tip could be transformed into amorphous carbon layers induced by the shear force and high pressure during the superlubricity test process.

Interleukin-22 receptor 1 is expressed in multinucleated giant cells: A study on intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: It is challenging to distinguish intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn's disease due to dynamic changes in epidemiology and similar clinical characteristics. Recent studies have shown that polymorphisms in genes involved in the interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 axis may affect intestinal mucosal immunity by affecting the differentiation of Th17 cells. AIM: To investigate the specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in the IL-23/IL-17 axis and possible pathways that affect susceptibility to intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease. METHODS: We analysed 133 patients with intestinal tuberculosis, 128 with Crohn's disease, and 500 normal controls. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded specimens or whole blood. Four SNPs in the IL23/Th17 axis (IL22 rs2227473, IL1ß rs1143627, TGFß rs4803455, and IL17 rs8193036) were genotyped with TaqMan assays. The transcriptional activity levels of different genotypes of rs2227473 were detected by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The expression of IL-22R1 in different intestinal diseases was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The A allele frequency of rs2227473 (P = 0.030, odds ratio = 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.95) showed an abnormal distribution between intestinal tuberculosis and healthy controls. The presence of the A allele was associated with a higher IL-22 transcriptional activity (P < 0.05). In addition, IL-22R1 was expressed in intestinal lymphoid tissues, especially under conditions of intestinal tuberculosis, and highly expressed in macrophage-derived Langhans giant cells. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of IL-22R1 in patients with Crohn's disease and intestinal tuberculosis was significantly higher than that in patients with intestinal polyps and colon cancer (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: High IL-22 expression seems to be a protective factor for intestinal tuberculosis. IL-22R1 is expressed in Langhans giant cells, suggesting that the IL-22/IL-22R1 system links adaptive and innate immunity.

ASSOCIATION OF BONE MINERAL DENSITY WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The relationship between OP and COPD has been primarily studied in male patients, and few reports are available in postmenopausal women. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and COPD in postmenopausal women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 133 clinically stable female ex-smokers with confirmed COPD, and 31 age-matched "ex-smoker" female controls. We analyzed groups according to their airway obstruction category. BMD was measured on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry images of the left femoral neck. RESULTS: Patients with COPD had lower T-scores and higher prevalence of osteopenia/OP than the control group. In the COPD group, the airway obstruction category was significantly associated with the T-score after adjustment for confounders. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed COPD was an independent marker for increased risk of osteopenia/OP in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: COPD and airway obstruction category were strongly related to BMD. Postmenopausal women with COPD, especially those with severe airway obstruction, had a higher prevalence rate and a higher risk of osteopenia and OP than female controls without COPD.

Association of bone mineral density with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in postmenopausal women

Abstract Background Osteoporosis (OP) is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The relationship between OP and COPD has been primarily studied in male patients, and few reports are available in postmenopausal women. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and COPD in postmenopausal women. Methods This cross-sectional study included 133 clinically stable female ex-smokers with confirmed COPD, and 31 age-matched “ex-smoker” female controls. We analyzed groups according to their airway obstruction category. BMD was measured on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry images of the left femoral neck. Results Patients with COPD had lower T-scores and higher prevalence of osteopenia/OP than the control group. In the COPD group, the airway obstruction category was significantly associated with the T-score after adjustment for confounders. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed COPD was an independent marker for increased risk of osteopenia/OP in postmenopausal women. Conclusions COPD and airway obstruction category were strongly related to BMD. Postmenopausal women with COPD, especially those with severe airway obstruction, had a higher prevalence rate and a higher risk of osteopenia and OP than female controls without COPD.

The Polymorphism rs17525495 of LTA4H Is Associated with Susceptibility of Crohn's Disease instead of Intestinal Tuberculosis in a Chinese Han Population.

BACKGROUND: Because of the similarity of intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease in disease phenotype, differential diagnosis has always been a clinical problem. Arachidonic acid metabolites play an important role in the inflammatory response of intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease. Recent studies have shown that the polymorphism locus in the promoter region of LTA4H gene affects LTB4 expression level and the susceptibility to extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Thus, we identified a total of 148 patients with intestinal tuberculosis, 145 with Crohn's disease, and 700 normal controls in this study. METHODS: All the study participants were local Han people from Jiangxi Province in the past eleven years. DNA was extracted from the paraffin-embedded specimens or the whole blood. The LTA4H promoter SNP (rs17525495) was genotyped with TaqMan assay. RESULTS: The T-alleles frequency was not significantly increased in patients with intestinal tuberculosis compared with healthy control group (p=0.630; OR=1.07; 95%CI=0.81-1.41), while patients with Crohn's disease have significantly increased T allele frequency compared with healthy population (p=0.032; OR=1.34; 95%CI=1.03-1.75). During treatment, the presence of the T allele significantly increased the proportion of Crohn's patients requiring glucocorticoids (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The T allele of LTA4H gene SNP (rs17525495) is a risk factor for Crohn's disease instead of intestinal tuberculosis. More importantly, there may be a potential association of the different genotypes of rs17525495 with the treatment efficacy of 5-ASA and glucocorticoids in patients with Crohn's disease. The association between LTA4H polymorphism and drugs therapeutic effects might contribute to the practice of precision medicine and the prediction of clinical outcomes.

Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis Terpenoids from Resina Commiphora.

Four new compounds including two new sesquiterpenoid dimers, commiphoroids E (1) and F (2), a new triterpenoid (3), and a new sesquiterpenoid (4), along with three known terpenoids (5-7) were isolated from Resina Commiphora, whose structures were identified by NMR spectra, HRESIMS, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 both bear an O-bridge ring and feature a plausible [4 + 2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction. Antimycobacterial activities show that all the tested compounds (200 µM) could inhibit the growth of both sensitive and clinically multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolated strains. In addition, cellular toxicity of the isolates against human cancer cells and THP-1 monocyte cells was examined.

Indicators for prediction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis positivity detected with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains a challenge in clinic, especially for sputum negative pulmonary TB. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has higher sensitivity than sputum for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). However, bronchoscopy is invasive and costly, and not suitable for all patients. In order to make TB patients get more benefit from BALF for diagnosis, we explore which indicator might be used to optimize the choice of bronchoscopy. METHODS: A total of 1539 sputum-smear-negative pulmonary TB suspects who underwent bronchoscopy were recruited for evaluation. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of Mtb detection in sputum and BALF were compared. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess variables that associated with positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear, Mtb culture and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) of BALF in sputum-negative and non-sputum-producing pulmonary TB suspects. RESULTS: BALF has significantly higher sensitivity (63.4%) than sputum (43.5%) for Mtb detection by culture and NAAT. 19.7% (122/620) sputum-negative and 40.0% (163/408) non-sputum-producing suspects had positive bacteriological results in BALF. Among sputum-negative and non-sputum-producing pulmonary TB suspects, the positivity of Mtb detection in BALF is associated with a younger age, the presence of pulmonary cavities and a positive result of interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). Sputum-negative patients under 35 years old with positive IGRA and pulmonary cavity had 84.8% positivity of Mtb in BALF. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that combination of age, the presence of pulmonary cavity, and the result of IGRA is useful to predict the positivity of Mtb detection in BALF among sputum-negative and non-sputum producing pulmonary TB suspects. Those who are under 35 years old, positive for the presence of pulmonary cavity and IGRA, should undergo bronchoscopy to collect BAFL for Mtb tests, as they have the highest possibility to get bacteriologically confirmation of TB.

Association of coronary artery calcium with bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis (OP) are common diseases in elderly individuals and may share common pathogenetic mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 186 postmenopausal women 50-80 years of age were included. BMD of the spine and femoral neck was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The coronary artery calcium score (CACS) was measured by multidetector computed tomography. RESULTS: The study included postmenopausal women aged 65.6±7.3 years, 109 of whom (58.6%) showed CAC. Thirty-three (17.7%) of the patients were found to have OP in the lumbar spine and 83 (44.6%) had osteopenia, whereas in the femoral neck, 26 patients (14.0%) had OP and 87 patients (46.8%) had osteopenia. The mean CACS was 57.6±108.3 in normal status, 89.7±143.5 in OP, and 156.4±256.9 in osteopenia at the spine (P<0.05). The mean CACS was 43.2±89.9 in normal status, 126.9±180.3 in OP, and 198.2±301.2 in osteopenia at the femoral neck (P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that BMD was an independent marker for an increased risk of developing CAC in postmenopausal women. The multiple regression model showed that T-scores were the independent predictors of CACS. CONCLUSION: BMD identified on images from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were strongly related to multidetector computed tomography measures of CAC. This low-cost, minimal radiation technique used widely for OP screening is a promising marker of generalized coronary atherosclerosis.

Facial palsy complicated by masked otomastoiditis in a 3-month-old infant.

BACKGROUND: The most common cause of facial palsy is idiopathic or Bell's palsy. Although uncommon in the postantibiotic era, otomastoiditis should receive more attention as a cause of facial palsy, especially in young children. Delay of identification and treatment may result in permanent neurological sequelae. OBJECTIVES: To describe a 3-month-old infant eventually diagnosed with masked otomastoiditis with initial presentation of facial palsy. CASE REPORT: We report a case of facial palsy complicated by masked otomastoiditis in a 3-month-old male infant. The facial palsy completely recovered after parenteral antibiotics and myringotomy. CONCLUSION: We use this case to emphasize that otomastoiditis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young children with facial palsy. Diagnosis may be difficult as signs and symptoms of otitis media in young children are often nonspecific and subtle, particularly in infants. Early diagnosis and careful investigation of middle ear regions should be performed to avoid permanent sequelae.

[Research and analysis to Shui nationality medicine treatment orthopedics & traumatology].

To investigated Shui nationality folk medicine's awareness to orthopedics & traumatology, the history of orthopedics & traumatology treatment, Shui nationality folk doctors' practicing medicine, heritage, diagnosis and treatment methods and tools, etc, through investigated drug resources category and distribution characteristics of Shui nationality medicine to orthopedics & traumatology treatment, explored and finished Shui nationality medicine orthopedics & traumatology treatment theoretical system. After more than 5 years' exploration and finishing, preliminarily formed the theoretical system framework and medicine application characteristics of Shui nationality medicine treating orthopedics & traumatology. Shui nationality medicine treatment orthopedics & traumatology has distinctive national style, and worthy to further exploration and research.

[High-throughout detection and analysis of drug-resistance gene mutation for 2465 cases with chronic hepatitis B in Shenzhen].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the character of drug-resistance gene mutation for patients with chronic hepatitis B in Shenzhen. METHODS: 2465 clinical cases with chronic hepatitis B were analyzed for gene mutation with MALDI-TOF-MS in order to know about the epidemiology of HBV drug resistance and its clinical significance. RESULTS: 763 cases were detected mutation among the 2465 cases. The frequency of Lamivudine related mutation was the highest (42.96%), especially on rtL180M (14. 72%), rtL204I (18. 50%), rtL204V (9. 74%). The frequency of Adefovir related mutation was about 8. 19% , among of which rtN236T was 4. 15%. The frequency of Entecavir related mutation was about 0. 49%. Among all samples, rtS202I mutation couldn't be detected. The existence of drug resistance could be detected earlier with MALDI-TOF-MS from the results of dynamic follow-up. CONCLUSION: In Shenzhen, the main HBV mutation was associated with lamivudine and adefovir,and with lower frequency of mutation for entecavir,so the optimized treatment for HBV was entecavir. It could detect the existence of drug resistance effectively with MALDI-TOF-MS and guide clinical treatment.

The absence of the ERBB4 hotspot mutations in melanomas in patients from southern China.

V-erb-a erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4 (ERBB4) has been reported to be somatically mutated in 19% of melanoma cases. To investigate the prevalence of ERBB4 mutations in melanoma patients from southern China, we analyzed 117 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded melanoma samples archived in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) platform was used to screen for mutations. No ERBB4 hotspot mutations were detected. Our results indicate that ERBB4 mutations may play a limited role in melanomas in China; therefore, targeting the ERBB4 mutation in melanoma patients from southern China may not be a promising strategy.

[A study on the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin-22 and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin-22 (IL-22) gene and pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2010, clinical data of 479 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Shenzhen Third People's Hospital were collected. There were 212 males, and 267 females, aging from 18 to 69 (mean 36 ± 17) years, as well as 358 healthy controls (162 males and 196 females), aging from 18 to 60 (mean 34 ± 13) years. The genotype of SNPs (rs1182844, rs2227473, rs2227476, rs2227480, rs2227485, rs2227508) in IL-22 gene were determined with MassARRAY assay, after Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test, and the allelic frequency and odds ratio were calculated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with different rs2227473 genotypes were stimulated with anti-CD3 and CD28, and then the IL-22 concentration in supernatant was determined with ELSIA. The SNP allelic frequencies between 2 groups were analyzed by chi-square and IL-22 concentration by t-test. RESULTS: The frequency of allele G of rs2227473 SNP was significantly higher in tuberculosis group than that in the control group (χ(2) = 7.448, P < 0.01, OR = 1.509, 95%CI= 1.121 - 2.030). The other 5 SNPs allele frequency were not statistically significant between the 2 groups (χ(2) = 0.528 - 3.571, all P > 0.05). The secretion of IL-22 was significantly lower in PBMCs with genotype GG of rs2227473 SNP as compared to that in the others (GA/AA) (t = 2.686, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that the rs2227473 SNP in IL-22 was associated with the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis. The allele G was the risk factor of pulmonary tuberculosis. The SNP (rs2227473) may play an important role in the protective immune process against tuberculosis by affecting the IL-22 expression of PBMCs.