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. 2008 Aug 22;25(1):59–65. doi: 10.1155/2008/619595

Polymorphisms of Toll Like Receptors in the Genetics of Severe RSV Associated Diseases

Beena Mailaparambil 1, Marcus Krueger 1, Jessica Heinze 1, Johannes Forster 1,2, Andrea Heinzmann 1,*
PMCID: PMC3827794  PMID: 18776592

Abstract

Toll like receptors (TLRs) are an essential part of the innate immune response. So far, ten different TLRs were identified in humans. They recognize a wide range of microbial and viral pathogens. Infection by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is still a major health problem, about 2% of all children are hospitalised due to RSV bronchiolitis during their first 2 years of live. TLR4 has already been described in association with RSV associated diseases by us and others.

Thus we were interested whether other TLRs are also involved in the genetics of severe RSV infection. We genotyped 19 polymorphisms in the autosomal TLRs, these are TLR1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 and 10. Association analyses by the Armitage's Trend test revealed weak association of one TLR9 promoter polymorphism with RSV infection (p = 0.013). In addition, association was found with TLR10 haplotypes (p = 0.024).

We conclude from our data – that – although we can not rule out a minor involvement of TLR9 polymorphism and TLR10 haplotypes – TLRs other than TLR4 do not play a major role in the genetics of severe RSV associated diseases. Future studies should focus on additional genes of the innate immune response.

Keywords: Toll like receptor (TLR), polymorphisms, association, RSV

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