TOLLIP Genetic Polymorphism Is Associated With Immune Conversion Following BCG Vaccination in Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study
Xinyi Zhao, Yunqing Chang, Shufang Wen, Yuxuan Zheng, Rongrong Wei, Shenjie Tang, Yi LiuAbstract
Background
Responses to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination vary among adults, but the host genetic factors contributing to this variability remain unclear.
Methods
We conducted a prospective cohort study of 60 healthy adults without evidence of effective prior BCG immunization. All participants received BCG vaccination and were followed for 24 weeks. Based on their TST conversion status at 24 weeks after vaccination, participants were classified as immune converters (n = 28) or non-converters (n = 32). The TOLLIP rs5743854 polymorphism was genotyped, and genotype distributions were compared between the 2 groups.
Results
The distribution of TOLLIP rs5743854 genotypes differed significantly between immune converters and non-converters (Fisher’ s exact test, P = 0.008). C-allele-carrying genotypes (GC + CC) were more frequent among immune converters and were associated with a higher likelihood of immune conversion compared with the GG genotype (odds ratio, 4.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.51-14.76; P = 0.006).
Conclusions
TOLLIP rs5743854 genetic variation was associated with BCG-induced immune conversion in healthy adults. Our findings suggest that variation in TOLLIP may partly account for differences in individual responses to BCG vaccination and should be further evaluated in larger study populations.