Analysis of toll-like receptors-9 [TLR9] gene polymorphism [rs5743836] in Pakistani patients with HCV

Toll-like receptors [TLRs] are innate immune receptors that mediate the inflammatory response during HCV infections. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association of TLR9 gene polymorphism [rs5743836] in Pakistani patients infected with genotype 3a of HCV. Total 500 subjects were recruited, 400 HCV patients and 100 healthy individuals. Genotyping of TLR9 [-1237T/C, rs5743836] was carried out in 400 HCV patients [323 interferon responders and 77 interferon nonresponder] and control group by applying High resolution melting [HRM] curve assay. No remarkable differences in distribution of genotype between HCV [p<0.0001; OR= 3.21, 95% CI= [2.514.12] and control groups [p<0.0001; OR=0.092, 95%CI= [0.0580.14] were observed. In conclusion TLR9-1237T/C gene polymorphism may not be considered as a molecular risk for patients with HCV in Pakistan