Association of genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1, NAT2, GST and SLCO1B1 with the risk of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms of N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1) and the risk of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATDILI).

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Reviews databases were searched through April 2019.

Eligibility criteria

We included case-control or cohort studies investigating an association between NAT2, CYP2E1, GST or SLCO1B1 polymorphisms and the ATDILI risk in patients with tuberculosis.

Data extraction and synthesis

Three authors screened articles, extracted data and assessed study quality. The strength of association was evaluated for each gene using the pooled OR with a 95% CI based on the fixed-effects or random-effects model. Sensitivity analysis was performed to confirm the reliability and robustness of the results.

Results

Fifty-four studies were included in this analysis (n=26 for CYP2E1, n=35 for NAT2, n=19 for GST, n=4 for SLCO1B1). The risk of ATDILI was significantly increased with the following genotypes: CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1/c1 (OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.83), NAT2 slow acetylator (OR=3.30, 95% CI 2.65 to 4.11) and GSTM1 null (OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.52). No significant association with ATDILI was found for the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1 DraI, GSTT1, GSTM1/GSTT1, SLCO1B1 388A>G and SLCO1B1 521T>C (p>0.05).

Conclusions

ATDILI is more likely to occur in patients with NAT2 slow acetylator genotype, CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype and GSTM1 null genotype. Close monitoring may be warranted for patients with these genotypes.

Strengths and limitations of this study.

• This is the first meta-analysis to evaluate the association between the risk of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATDILI) and solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1) in patients with tuberculosis.

• We included most updated studies with the large sample sizes to better clarify the association of genetic polymorphisms with the risk of ATDILI.

• The effect of anti-tuberculosis drug dosages on the risk of ATDILI could not be accounted for in this study due to the lack of drug dosing information in the majority of the included studies.

Introduction

Tuberculosis is a rampant infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It poses a major public health threat globally with approximately 1.3 million deaths and 10 million new cases in 2017.¹ The mainstay of first-line tuberculosis treatment is a four-drug combination regimen of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), pyrazinamide (PZA) and ethambutol (EMB) during the first 2 months, followed by INH and RIF for additional 4 months.^{2 3} The currently recommended therapy for tuberculosis is highly effective, resulting in high cure rates if patients are adherent to therapy.⁴ However, treatment adherence is often suboptimal in patients receiving the combination anti-tuberculosis therapy due to many adverse drug reactions, some of which are considered detrimental.⁵ One of the common adverse drug reactions associated with anti-tuberculosis medications is anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATDILI) affecting 2% to 28% of patients with tuberculosis.⁶ ATDILI could be potentially serious and fatal, resulting in the treatment interruption and ultimately, treatment failure.^{7 8}

Recently, increasing evidence suggests an association between the risk of ATDILI and genetic polymorphisms of drug-metabolising enzymes (DMEs) and drug transporters.^{9 10} Altered enzyme activity due to polymorphic genotypes of various DMEs including cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) can result in the accumulation of toxic substances in the liver, leading to the development of ATDILI.¹¹ However, conflicting results have been reported regarding the association between the risk of ATDILI and genetic polymorphisms of various DMEs in patients with tuberculosis.^{9 12 13} In addition to DMEs, drug transporters have been emerging as a key determinant of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a drug.¹⁴ Among various drug transporters, organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1), encoded by SLCO1B1, is the major influx transporter responsible for hepatic uptake of RIF.¹⁵ Although several studies have previously examined the association between SLCO1B1 polymorphisms and the risk of ATDILI, conflicting results have been reported regarding the effect of SLCO1B1 polymorphisms on ATDILI risk. Therefore, an updated meta-analysis has been warranted to confirm the association between the ATDILI risk and genetic polymorphisms of DMEs. In our preliminary literature search, several polymorphic genes, including many DMEs, transporters and other genes such as those involved in the immune system, were identified to have an association with the risk of ATDILI. Among these, sufficient, published information was available to confirm the effect of CYP2E1, NAT2, GST, and SLCO1B1 genetic polymorphisms on the ATDILI risk through meta-analysis.

Objectives

The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between the risk of ATDILI and genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1, NAT2, GST and SLCO1B1 in patients with tuberculosis.

Methods

This study was in compliance with the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist for reporting the study design, search strategy, methods, results and conclusions (online supplementary table S1). Three authors (SY, JYP and SJH) independently conducted a literature search, study selection, quality assessment and data extraction. Any discrepancies were adjudicated by corresponding authors (JIL and EKC).

Search strategy

Electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Reviews were systematically searched from their inception to April 2019 to identify relevant studies evaluating the association of NAT2, CYP2E1, GST and SLCO1B1 polymorphisms with ATDILI risk. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using a combination of the following keywords and Medical Subject Heading terms: (‘genetic polymorphism’ or ‘NAT2’ or ‘CYP2E1’ or ‘GST’ or ‘SLCO1B1’ or ‘drug-metabolizing enzymes’ or ‘drug transporter’) AND (‘anti-tuberculosis agents drug-induced liver injuries’ or ‘hepatotoxicity’). The detailed search strategies for each electronic database used in this analysis are presented in online supplementary table S2. The reference lists in the selected reviews and meta-analyses were reviewed to ensure the inclusion of all relevant evidence in this analysis.

Study selection

Studies were considered eligible if they met all of the following inclusion criteria: (1) studies in patients with tuberculosis receiving anti-tuberculosis drug regimen; (2) studies with the control group of patients with tuberculosis, tolerant of anti-tuberculosis medications; (3) studies evaluating the association between the occurrence of ATDILI and genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1, NAT2, GST and SLCO1B1 388A>G and 521T>C and (4) case-control or cohort observational studies. Excluded studies were as follows: (1) studies available only in the form of abstracts or meeting posters, (2) review or meta-analysis articles, (3) studies providing insufficient data necessary for the statistical data analysis, (4) studies in non-English language, (5) non-human studies including animal and in vitro studies, (6) studies with unpublished data, (7) studies providing insufficient information on genotyping methods and (8) healthy controls.

Quality assessment and data extraction

The quality of included studies was assessed using the revised Little’s recommendation based on the following criteria^{16 17}: (1) scientific design, (2) definite inclusion of study population, (3) explicit information on study population, (4) explicit diagnostic criteria of ATDILI, (5) genetic detection method, (6) appropriate statistical analysis and (7) logical discussion of study bias. Studies with an overall score of ≥4 (range 0 to 7) were considered high quality and retained in the analysis.

The following data were extracted from each study using a standardised extraction form: (1) name of the first author, (2) year of publication, (3) the polymorphic gene(s) and genotype(s) under investigation, (4) ethnicity, (5) sample size, (6) mean or median age, (7) sex distribution, (8) anti-tuberculosis drug regimens, (9) diagnostic criteria of ATDILI, (10) genotyping methods and (11) the number of cases and controls for each polymorphic genotype.

Statistical analysis

The genotypes were analysed based on the following proposed genetic risk model: (1) NAT2 (slow acetylator vs intermediate and fast acetylator), (2) CYP2E1 (c1/c1 vs c1/c2 and c2/c2 for the RsaI/PstI polymorphism, D/D vs D/C and C/C for the DraI polymorphism), (3) GSTM1 (null vs non-null), (4) GSTT1 (null vs non-null), (5) GSTM1/GSTT1 (dual-null vs one-null or non-null) and (6) SLCO1B1 388A>G and 521T>C polymorphisms. The genetic risk models for NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTM1/GSTT1 have been studied in previous studies.^{9 18 19} Based on these previous studies, the most clinically significant and plausible model for each polymorphic gene was selected. Due to the relative paucity of data suggesting the most clinically relevant genetic model for SLCO1B1 388A>G and 521T>C polymorphisms, all three genomic models including dominant, recessive and additive models were evaluated. The Mantel-Haenszel or DerSimonian-Laird method based on fixed-effects or random-effects models, respectively, were used depending on the presence of heterogeneity.^{20 21} The random-effects model was used in the presence of significant heterogeneity; otherwise, the fixed-effects model was used to estimate the total effect of a polymorphic gene genotype on the risk of ATDILI. Heterogeneity of study outcomes among included studies was evaluated using Cochran’s Q test (Q) and quantified using Higgin’s I² test. Significant heterogeneity was defined as the I² score of >40% accompanied by p<0.10 from the Cochran’s Q test.²² The strength of the association between the genetic polymorphisms and the risk of ATDILI was estimated using pooled ORs with the corresponding 95%CIs. The statistical significance of an OR was defined as p<0.05 from the Z test.

Subgroup analysis was performed based on ethnicity, anti-tuberculosis drug regimen used and the type of study design. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the results and to identify the source of heterogeneity using the leave-one-out method. In each analysis, one study was deleted, and with the one study left out, the meta-analysis was performed; this process was repeated until every study had been deleted from our included study pool for each tested polymorphic gene. Publication bias was evaluated with a symmetrical funnel plot. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager Software V.5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK).

Patient and public involvement

Patients and public were not involved in the design of this study.

Results

Study selection and characteristics

Overall, 388 articles were identified through electronic database search and three articles through manual search by reviewing the reference lists of retrieved articles. After removing 99 duplicates, 289 articles were screened for relevance based on the title and abstract. Among them, 72 relevant articles were assessed for eligibility through full-text evaluations. Finally, a total of 54 articles which met the inclusion criteria were included in our analysis (figure 1). Among the 54 studies, 26 studies were included for CYP2E1, 35 studies for NAT2, 19 studies for GST (19 for GSTM1, 17 for GSTT1 and 11 for GSTM1/GSTT1) and four studies for SLCO1B1 388A>G and 521T>C.

Figure 1.

Study selection process flowchart. ATDILI, anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury; CYP2E1, cytochrome P450 2E1; GSTM1, glutathione S-transferase Mu 1; GSTT1, glutathione S-transferase Theta 1; NAT2, N-acetyltransferase 2; SLCO1B1, solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1; TB, tuberculosis.

Table 1 summarises the characteristics of the included studies. Across the included studies, large variability in study population was observed in terms of ethnicity (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Taiwanese, Brazilian, Caucasian, Iranian, Tunisian and Turkish), age (mean or median age ranging from 27 to 70 years) and sex (the proportion of males ranging from 13% to 90%). Patients in our included studies received either monotherapy with INH or RIF or a combination therapy including a four-drug regimen of INH, RIF, PZA and EMB for the treatment of tuberculosis. ATDILI was defined as an elevated serum alanine aminotransferase concentration by 1.5-fold to 5-fold or greater above the upper limit of normal depending on the study. The quality score of the included studies was 6 or greater based on the revised Little’s recommendation (table 1, online supplementary table S3).^{16 17} Genotype distribution and genotyping method used in the included studies are summarised for each polymorphic gene in online supplementary table S4 to S7. Funnel plots for CYP2E1, NAT2, GST and SLCO1B1 are provided in online supplementary figure S8. None of the funnel plots showed an asymmetric inverted funnel shape, indicating the absence of potential publication bias.

Table 1.

Characteristics of the studies included in the meta-analysis (n=54 studies)

Last name of the first author, year	Polymorphic gene	Study design	Ethnicity	Sample size (case/control)	Age (years) (case/control)*	Male (%) (case/control)	Anti-TB drug regimen administered	Diagnostic criteria of ATDILI	Quality score†
Feng et al, 201423	CYP2E1	Case-control	Chinese	173/173	48.8/48.6	68.0/68.0	INH, RIF, PZA	ALT>3 × ULN	6
Kim et al, 200948	CYP2E1	Case-control	Korean	67/159	42.1/42.8	65.7/65.4	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Singh et al, 201449	CYP2E1	Cohort	Indian	50/135	NA/NA	NA/NA	NA	ALT>2 ×  ULN	7
Tang et al, 201350	CYP2E1	Case-control	Chinese	89/356	43.7/43.6	73.0/73.0	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Ben Mahmoud et al, 201251	NAT2	Cohort	Tunisian	14/52	42.4/42.1	42.8/48.1	INH, RIF containing regimen	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Bozok Cetintaş et al, 200852	NAT2	Case-control	Turkish	30/70	39.8/37.3	50.0/72.8	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>3 × ULN	6
Higuchi et al, 200753	NAT2	Cohort	Japanese	18/82	60.8/64.7	50.0/57.3	INH, RIF containing regimen	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Ho et al, 201354	NAT2	Cohort	Taiwanese	20/328	NA/NA	NA/NA	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>5 × ULN	6
Huang et al, 200255	NAT2	Cohort	Taiwanese	33/191	73.3/63.7	87.9/88.5	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Khalili et al, 201156	NAT2	Case-control	Iranian	14/36	NA/NA	NA/NA	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>3 × ULN	6
Leiro-Fernandez et al, 201157	NAT2	Case-control	Caucasian	50/67	34.0/30.5‡	54.0/56.7	INH, RIF, PZA	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Lv et al, 201224	NAT2	Case-control	Chinese	89/356	42.0/42.0‡	73.0/73.0	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 ×  ULN	7
Ng et al, 201458	NAT2	Case-control	Mixed	26/101	48.3/NA	38.5/NA	INH containing regimen	ALT>5 × ULN	7
Ohno et al, 200059	NAT2	Cohort	Japanese	14/63	NA/NA	NA/NA	INH, RIF	ALT>1.5 × ULN	7
Possuelo et al, 200860	NAT2	Cohort	Brazilian	14/240	38.9/36.5	50.0/66.9	INH, RIF, PZA	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Rana et al, 201261	NAT2	Cohort	Indian	50/201	45.3/43.8	76.0/57.2	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>5 × ULN	7
Shimizu et al, 200662	NAT2	Case-control	Japanese	10/32	60.5/64.9	70.0/46.9	INH, RIF	ALT>2 × ULN	6
Yuliwulandari et al, 201663	NAT2	Case-control	Indonesian	50/191	NA/NA	NA/NA	NA	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Wattanapokayakit et al, 201625	NAT2	Case-control	Thailand	53/85	51.4/50.2	58.5/60.0	INH containing regimen	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Chatterjee et al, 201064	GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Indian	51/100	37.2/33.2	49.0/63.0	INH, RIF, PZA	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Gupta et al, 201365	GSTM1, GSTT1	Cohort	Indian	50/246	37.0/36.5‡	48.0/56.5	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Huang et al, 200766	GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Taiwanese	63/63	62.0/NA	NA/NA	NA	ALT>5 × ULN	6
Kim et al, 201067	GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Korean	57/190	47.3/42.4	59.6/67.9	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Leiro et al, 200868	GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Caucasian	35/60	34.0/31.0‡	40.0/41.7	INH, RIF, PZA	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Liu et al, 201469	GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Chinese	20/143	35.9/61.2	60.0/59.4	INH containing regimen	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Monteiro et al, 201270	GSTM1, GSTT1	Cohort	Brazilian	59/118	37.0/38.0‡	76.0/61.0	NA	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Rana et al, 201371	GSTM1, GSTT1	Cohort	Indian	30/220	43.6/42.3	60.0/64.5	INH, RIF	ALT>5 × ULN	6
Roy et al, 200172	GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Indian	33/33	NA/NA	NA/NA	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Chen et al, 201542	SLCO1B1	Case-control	Chinese	89/356	43.7/43.6	73.0/73.0	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 ×  ULN	7
Kim et al, 201210	SLCO1B1	Case-control	Korean	67/159	43.0/42.8	65.7/65.4	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Li et al, 201228	SLCO1B1	Case-control	Chinese	118/155	40.5/39.3	48.3/54.8	RIF	ALT>3 × ULN	7
An et al, 201273	NAT2, CYP2E1	Case-control	Chinese	101/107	36.0/33.4‡	55.0/70.0	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Bose et al, 201174	NAT2, CYP2E1	Cohort	Indian	41/177	38.0/36.0	43.9/47.4	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Chamorro et al, 201375	NAT2, CYP2E1	Cohort	Mixed (South American)	47/128	29.0/27.0	41.3/64.8	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Cho et al, 200776	NAT2, CYP2E1	Cohort	Korean	18/114	51.2/46.7	66.7/55.3	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Gupta et al, 201327	NAT2, CYP2E1	Case-control	Indian	50/165	37.0/38.0	48.0/60.0	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Huang et al, 200377	NAT2, CYP2E1	Cohort	Taiwanese	49/269	70.0/59.0‡	18.4/14.9	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Lee et al, 201078	NAT2, CYP2E1	Cohort	Taiwanese	45/95	58.4/54.9	60.0/66.3	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Mishra et al, 201379	NAT2, CYP2E1	Case-control	Indian	33/173	38.0/NA	52.0/NA	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Santos et al, 201380	NAT2, CYP2E1	Case-control	Brazilian	18/252	47.7/45.6	56.0/49.0	INH, RIF	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Vuilleumier et al, 200681	NAT2, CYP2E1	Case-control	Mixed	8/63	27–35: 2/22§ >36: 5/18§	38.0/51.0	INH	AST or ALT>4 ×  ULN	7
Yamada et al, 200982	NAT2, CYP2E1	Case-control	Mixed	23/147	NA/NA	13.0/42.9	INH	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Zaverucha-do-Valle et al, 201483	NAT2, CYP2E1	Cohort	Brazilian	50/79	<40: 28/43§ >40: 20/36§	60.4/72.2	INH, RIF, PZA	ALT>2 × ULN	6
Sharma et al, 201484	CYP2E1, GSTM1	Cohort	Indian	105/185	35.2/27.6	55.7/72.1	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>5 × ULN	7
Wang et al, 201085	CYP2E1, GSTM1	Case-control	Chinese	104/111	48.6/44.7	67.3/67.6	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Tang et al, 201286	CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Chinese	89/356	43.7/43.6	73.0/73.0	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7
Yimer et al, 201145	NAT2, SLCO1B1	Cohort	Ethiopian	41/160	NA/NA	NA/NA	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	6
Brito et al, 201487	NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1	Cohort	Brazilian	15/230	38.1/36.8	46.7/NA	INH, RIF, PZA	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Forestiero et al, 201388	NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1	Cohort	Brazilian	59/40	NA/NA	49.2/60.0	INH, RIF, PZA	ALT>2.5 × ULN	6
Rana et al, 201489	NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1	Cohort	Indian	55/245	43.6/42.3	60.0/62.0	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>5 × ULN	6
Singla et al, 201426	NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Indian	17/391	48.2/32.7	64.7/61.4	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB, STM	ALT>2 ×  ULN	7
Sotsuka et al, 201190	NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Japanese	20/92	54.9/50.4	90.0/73.9	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB or STM	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Teixeira et al, 201191	NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1	Case-control	Brazilian	26/141	47.6/43.0	61.5/52.5	INH containing regimen	ALT>3 × ULN	7
Xiang et al, 201492	NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1	Cohort	Chinese	89/2155	37.0/44.5	67.4/55.7	INH, RIF, PZA, EMB	ALT>2 × ULN	7

*Mean unless otherwise stated.

†Detailed scoring for each quality assessment criterion based on the revised Little’s recommendation in online supplementary table S2.

‡Median age.

§Number of individuals in the age ranges.

ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ATDILI, anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury; CYP2E1, cytochrome P450 2E1; EMB, ethambutol; GSTM1, glutathione S-transferase Mu 1; GSTT1, glutathione S-transferase Theta 1; INH, isoniazid; NA, not available; NAT2, N-acetyltransferase 2; PZA, pyrazinamide; RIF, rifampicin; SLCO1B1, solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (encoding organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1)); STM, streptomycin; TB, tuberculosis; ULN, upper limit of normal.

CYP2E1

For the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism, 24 studies with 1293 cases and 5450 controls were included in our primary analysis. Using the random-effects model, the pooled estimates of all included studies (n=24) showed a significant association between the risk of ATDILI and the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism (OR for the c1/c1 genotype=1.39, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.83, p=0.02; I²=60%, P_{heterogeneity} <0.0001) (figure 2A). In the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity and anti-tuberculosis drug regimens, the risk of ATDILI was significantly increased for the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype in East Asian patients (OR=1.62, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.36, p=0.01; I²=69%, P_{heterogeneity}=0.0006) and in patients receiving a combination of anti-tuberculosis medications (OR=1.35, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.79, p<0.00001; I²=61%, P_{heterogeneity}=0.0002) (online supplementary table S9). No significant association was observed between the risk of ATDILI and the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype when evaluating studies with the same study design only (ie, either case-control studies or cohort studies) (online supplementary table S9).

Figure 2.

Risk of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury in patients with the CYP2E1 (A) RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype compared with c1/c2+c2/c2 genotypes and (B) DraI D/D genotype compared with D/C+C/C genotypes. CYP2E1, cytochrome P450 2E1.

In our primary analysis for the CYP2E1 DraI polymorphism with six studies including 233 cases and 1272 controls, no significant association was observed using the fixed-effects model between the risk of ATDILI and the DraI polymorphism (OR for the D/D genotype=0.93, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.27, p=0.64; I²=0%, P_{heterogeneity}=0.51) (figure 2B).

NAT2

Overall, 35 studies with 1323 cases and 7319 controls were included in our primary analysis for the NAT2 polymorphism. Using the random-effects model, the pooled estimates of all included studies (n=35) showed a significant association between the risk of ATDILI and the NAT2 polymorphism (OR for the slow acetylator genotype=3.30, 95% CI 2.65 to 4.11, p<0.00001; I²=54%, P_{heterogeneity} <0.0001) (figure 3). In the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity, anti-tuberculosis drug regimens used, and study design, the risk of ATDILI was significantly increased in slow acetylators compared with fast or intermediate acetylators in all subgroups (online supplementary table S10).

Figure 3.

Risk of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury in patients with the NAT2 slow acetylator genotype compared with those with the intermediate/fast acetylator genotypes. NAT2, N-acetyltransferase 2.

GST

For the GSTM1 polymorphism, a total of 19 studies with 977 cases and 5119 controls were included in our primary analysis. Using the fixed-effects model, the pooled estimates of all included studies (n=19) showed a significant association between the risk of ATDILI and the GSTM1 polymorphism (OR for the GSTM1 null genotype=1.30, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.52, p=0.0007; I²=33%, P_{heterogeneity}=0.08) (figure 4A). When studies were stratified for ethnicity, the risk of ATDILI was significantly increased for the GSTM1 null genotype in Indians (OR=1.68, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.19, p<0.0001; I²=36%, P_{heterogeneity}=0.15) (online supplementary table S11). In the subgroup analyses by study design, the estimated OR (95% CI, p value; I², P_{heterogeneity}) for the GSTM1 null genotype relative to the non-null genotype was 1.41 (1.04 to 1.93, p=0.03; I²=44%, P_{heterogeneity}=0.08) in cohort studies and 1.25 (1.01 to 1.55, p=0.20; I²=29%, P_{heterogeneity}=0.17) in case-control studies, respectively (online supplementary table S11).

Figure 4.

Risk of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury in patients with (A) the GSTM1 null genotype compared with the non-null genotype, (B) the GSTT1 null genotype compared with the non-null genotype and (C) the GSTM1/GSTT1 dual-null genotype compared with the one-null and non-null genotypes. GSTM1, glutathione S-transferase Mu 1; GSTT1, glutathione S-transferase Theta 1.

For the GSTT1 and GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphisms, 17 studies (768 cases, 4823 controls) and 11 studies (547 cases, 4233 controls) were included in our primary analyses, respectively. The risk of ATDILI was not significantly associated with the GSTT1 polymorphism (OR for the null genotype=1.03, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.25, p=0.76; I²=16%, P_{heterogeneity}=0.26) or the GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphism (OR for the dual-null genotype=1.05, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.62, p=0.84; I²=59%, P_{heterogeneity}=0.006) (figure 4B and C). When studies were stratified for ethnicity, anti-tuberculosis drug regimens used, and study design, no subgroups showed significant association between the risk of ATDILI and the GSTT1 and the GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphisms (online supplementary table S11).

SLCO1B1

For the SLCO1B1 388A>G polymorphism, four studies with 302 cases and 913 controls were included in our primary analysis. Using the dominant, recessive or additive genomic model, no significant association was observed between the risk of ATDILI and the SLCO1B1 388A>G polymorphism (table 2). For the SLCO1B1 521T>C polymorphism, four studies with 314 cases and 912 controls were included in our primary analysis. No significant association was found between the ATDILI risk and the SLCO1B1 521T>C polymorphism under the dominant, recessive or additive genetic model (table 2). Due to the lack of significant association between the risk of ATDILI and the tested SLCO1B1 genetic polymorphisms in our primary meta-analysis, subgroup analyses were not performed for these genetic polymorphisms.

Table 2.

Association between the SLCO1B1 polymorphisms and the risk of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury

Polymorphism	Genetic model		Number of studies	OR (95% CI)	P value	I2, %	Pheterogeneity	Model of meta-analysis
SLCO1B1 388A>G (rs2306283)	Dominant model	AA+AG vs GG	4	1.00 (0.76 to 1.31)	1.00	0	0.73	Fixed
	Recessive model	AA vs AG+GG	4	1.45 (0.93 to 2.25)	0.10	0	0.84	Fixed
	Additive model	AA vs GG	4	1.36 (0.85 to 2.15)	0.20	0	0.98	Fixed
SLCO1B1 521T>C (rs4149056)	Dominant model	CC+TC vs TT	4	0.74 (0.43 to 1.28)	0.28	66	0.03	Random
	Recessive model	CC vs TC+TT	4	1.21 (0.40 to 3.64)	0.73	0	0.57	Fixed
	Additive model	CC vs TT	4	1.27 (0.42 to 3.84)	0.67	0	0.61	Fixed

SLCO1B1, solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1.

Sensitivity analysis

Our primary analysis results showed significantly high heterogeneity between studies for CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI (I²=60%, p<0.0001), NAT2 (I²=54%, p<0.0001), GSTM1/GSTT1 (I²=59%, p=0.006) and SLCO1B1 521T>C (dominant genetic model: I²=66%, p=0.03) polymorphisms. This high heterogeneity between studies may be due to substantial differences in ethnicity, anti-tuberculosis drug regimen, the genotyping method used, study design and diagnostic criteria of ATDILI among the included studies (table 1). Through the sensitivity analyses, outlier studies were identified as the major source of heterogeneity. After removing these outlier studies, heterogeneity was substantially reduced (I²=60% to 42% for CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI,²³ I²=54% to 34% for NAT2 ^{24 25}, I²=59% to 0% for GSTM1/GSTT1^{26 27} and I²=66% to 0% for SLCO1B1 521T>C dominant genetic model²⁸). The overall results for the association between the risk of ATDILI and these genetic polymorphisms after excluding the outlier studies stayed the same as those from our primary analysis results.

Discussion

In this study, we conducted a large-scale meta-analysis evaluating the association between the risk of ATDILI and genetic polymorphisms of SLCO1B1 as well as various DMEs including CYP2E1, NAT2 and GST to provide more updated, comprehensive and compelling evidence. Compared with previous meta-analyses, our present study included a larger number of studies, which may sufficiently increase the statistical power compared with individual studies. However, a limited number of studies for the SLCO1B1 genetic polymorphisms were included (n=4). Consistently with previous studies, our current study suggested a significantly increased risk of ATDILI in patients with the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype (OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.83), the NAT2 slow acetylator genotype (OR=3.30, 95% CI 2.65 to 4.11) and the GSTM1 null genotype (OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.52).^{9 12 29} Among these genotypes, the largest increase in the risk of ATDILI was shown in patients with the NAT2 slow acetylator genotype. In contrast, no significant association was observed between the risk of ATDILI and the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1 DraI, GSTT1, GSTM1/GSTT1, SLCO1B1 388A>G and SLCO1B1 521T>C. Caution needs to be exercised when interpreting this study finding because the lack of significant association between these polymorphisms and the risk of ATDILI might be due to small sample sizes and the low frequency of ATDILI reported in patients with these genetic polymorphisms.

When evaluating the impact of the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI and DraI genetic polymorphisms on the risk of ATDILI in our study, patients with the RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype were 1.39-times more likely to develop ATDILI. Similarly, in a previous meta-analysis by Deng and colleagues, the risk of ATDILI was 1.4-times higher in patients with the RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype compared with other genotypes.³⁰ In the liver, INH is metabolised by NAT2 to acetylisoniazid which is consequently oxidised by CYP2E1 to reactive hepatotoxic intermediates.^{31 32} The increased inducibility or greater activity of CYP2E1 in patients with the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype may result in the production of more intermediate hepatotoxins, ultimately leading to the increased risk of ATDILI.^{31 32} Our subgroup analysis showed a significantly increased risk of ATDILI in the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype carriers of East Asian ethnicity (S9 Table), suggesting a potential gene-ethnicity interaction.³³ A previous study identified age, female sex, white race, non-Hispanic ethnicity, lower body mass index, elevated plasma aspartate transaminase concentrations at baseline and 9 months of daily INH use as risk factors for ATDILI.³⁴ Considering their race, ethnicity and relatively lower body mass index compared with other ethnicities, East Asians may be at an increased risk of ATDILI. As the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1 allele frequency is relatively low in this population (79.8% vs 88.5% to 99.8% in other ethnicities), the ethnicity itself might play an important role in developing hepatotoxicity through gene-ethnicity interaction.³⁵ Furthermore, the relatively high frequency of c2 allele in this population might serve as a good control to estimate the effect of c1 allele on the risk of ATDILI; the rarity of this minor allele in other ethnicities could make it difficult to evaluate the association between the ATDILI risk and this genetic polymorphism.³⁵ In addition to ethnicity, combination anti-tuberculosis therapy was shown to significantly increase the risk of ATDILI in patients with the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1/c1 genotype (S9 Table). This is consistent with previous study findings because hepatotoxicity commonly occurs with anti-tuberculosis drugs such as INH and RIF and thus, use of more than one hepatotoxic anti-tuberculosis medication increases the risk of ATDILI.⁷

Similar to previous studies, our current study suggested a significantly increased risk of ATDILI in patients with the NAT2 slow acetylator genotype compared with those with intermediate/fast acetylator genotypes.^{9 29} The risk of ATDILI in slow acetylators remained significantly increased in all tested subgroups regardless of ethnicity and the anti-tuberculosis drug regimen used (S10 Table). The frequencies of NAT2 slow acetylator alleles are highly variable between ethnic groups, ranging from 32% in Koreans to 76% in Caucasians.³⁶ Despite this large inter-ethnic variability in the NAT2 polymorphic allele frequency, the NAT2 slow acetylator genotype consistently and significantly increased the risk of ATDILI across all ethnicities, suggesting the critical role of NAT2 polymorphism in the development of ATDILI. In addition, the increased risk of ATDILI in slow acetylators receiving INH monotherapy or combination therapy further highlights the importance of the NAT2 polymorphism in the development of INH-induced hepatotoxicity. The clearance of INH is slower in slow acetylators compared with rapid or intermediate acetylators, resulting in the accumulation of INH in these patients.^{37 38} This high level of INH may increase the risk of ATDILI in patients with tuberculosis carrying NAT2 slow acetylator genotype due to immune-mediated liver injury through the binding of INH to liver proteins.³⁹ Therefore, clinicians should closely monitor patients with tuberculosis carrying the NAT2 slow acetylator genotype for hepatotoxicity when INH-based treatment is administered to these patients.

According to previous studies, GST enzymes, particularly those coded by GSTM1 and GSTT1 loci, are associated with the risk of drug-induced hepatotoxicity.^{9 40} Similar to previous studies, our current study demonstrated a significantly increased risk of ATDILI in individuals with the GSTM1 null genotype compared with those with the non-null genotype; however, the risk of ATDILI was not affected by the GSTT1 or GSTM1/GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms. GSTs are important enzymes to detoxify various xenobiotics and play an essential role in INH metabolism by eliminating acetyldiazene ketene acetylonium ion, which is a possibly hepatotoxic free radical metabolite of INH, from the body through GSTM1. This may account for the significant association of the ATDILI risk with the GSTM1 genotype, but not with the GSTT1 or GSTM1/GSTT1 genotypes.^{9 40} Our subgroup analysis showed a significantly increased risk of ATDILI in the GSTM1 null genotype carriers of Indian ethnicity; although not statistically significant, the risk of ATDILI was relatively high in the East Asian population with the GSTM1 null genotype (online supplementary table S11). Considering the substantial difference in the GSTM1 null allele frequency between Indians (29.6%) and East Asians (52.1%), a potential gene-ethnicity interaction may exist based on their race, ethnicity and body size as aforementioned.^{34 41} Other characteristics than the GSTM1 polymorphism in these ethnicities may play a more important role in the development of ATDILI. In addition, when studies were stratified by study design, the risk of ATDILI was significantly increased in patients with the GSTM1 null genotype for cohort studies only, but not for case-control studies, probably due to a relatively larger sample size with cohort studies compared with case-control studies.

SLCO1B1 encodes OATP1B1 which is a major influx drug transporter responsible for the hepatic uptake of various endogenous and exogenous substances including RIF.⁴² Previous studies showed significantly altered systemic exposure of RIF in carriers of the SLCO1B1 polymorphism.^{43 44} To our knowledge, only four studies have been conducted to examine the association between the ATDILI risk and the SLCO1B1 genetic polymorphisms.10 28 42 45 Various single nucleotide polymorphisms of SLCO1B1 were evaluated in these studies; however, SLCO1B1 388A>G (rs2306283) and 521T>C (rs4149056) were the only polymorphisms assessed in common.10 28 42 45 Therefore, to maximise the sample size in our current meta-analysis, we examined the association between the risk of ATDILI and the polymorphic genotypes of SLCO1B1 388A>G and 521T>C. Similar to each of the included studies, we did not find significant difference in the risk of ATDILI among patients with different SLCO1B1 388A>G and 521T>C genotypes.

There are limitations to this study. First, due to the lack of information regarding other patient characteristics potentially associated with ATDILI, our estimated ORs were not adjusted based on the potential risk factors such as age, anti-tuberculosis drug dosages, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and other lifestyle characteristics.^{7 46} Second, our literature search limited to the articles published in English may lead to language bias. Third, a specific causative agent of ATDILI could not be identified in our analysis because most patients in our included studies received a combination regimen of anti-tuberculosis drugs. Fourth, only the limited number of polymorphic genotypes were assessed for the association with the risk of ATDILI, particularly for SLCO1B1. In addition, only one genetic model was used for CYP2E1, NAT2 and GST when evaluating the association between genetic polymorphisms of these genes and the risk of ATDILI. Although we acknowledge dominant, recessive and additive genomic models can be used for two alleles, it could not be applied to our meta-analysis because we compared patients with different genotype-based phenotype, that is, slow acetylator versus fast/intermediate acetylator and null vs. non-null GSTs. Multiple allelic variants or allele subgroups may represent the same phenotype (eg, NAT2*5B, *6A, and *7B all represent slow acetylator genotypes), and the genetic model selection can be varied depending on the specific allelic variant.⁴⁷ Therefore, the genetic models used in previous original and meta-analysis studies were adopted for these polymorphic genes in our current study.^{9 18 19} Future studies are needed to comprehensively and adequately address the relationship between the ATDILI risk and various genetic polymorphisms by using different genetic risk models and including more polymorphic genotypes.

In conclusion, the risk of ATDILI during tuberculosis therapy was significantly increased in patients with tuberculosis carrying NAT2 slow acetylator, CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI c1/c1, or GSTM1 null genotypes. Screening for these genetic polymorphisms, particularly for the NAT2 slow acetylator genotype, may be of great clinical benefit to identify patients at high risk for ATDILI and minimise the risk of ATDILI. Future studies are pertinent to develop dose and/or treatment adjustment strategies, to evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the genetic screening test, and to assess the effect of more genetic polymorphisms on the risk of ATDILI for optimal prevention and management of ATDILI.