Macrophage migration inhibitory factor - 794 CATT microsatellite polymorphism and susceptibility of tuberculosis.

Purpose: The establishment of candidate genetic determinants associated with tuberculosis (TB) is a challenge, considering the divergent frequencies among populations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between MIF - 794 CATT  polymorphism and susceptibility to TB.

Methods: Case-control study. Patients > 18 years, with pulmonary TB were included. The control group consisted of blood donors and household contacts, not relatives, healthy and > 18 years. MIF - 794 CATT  were genotyped using sequencing of PCR and capillary electrophoresis.

Results: 126 patients and 119 controls were included. The genotype 5/5 was more frequent among cases (15.1%) than in controls (5.9%) (p = 0.019). Cases had more frequently the allele 5 (29.4%) as compared with controls (19.3%) (p = 0.010). Prevalence of 7/X + 8/X genotypes was not different between cases and controls (p = 0.821). There was no difference between patients with alleles 7 and 8 and those with alleles 5 and 6 (p = 0.608).

Conclusions: The genotype 5/5 and the allele 5 of MIF - 794 CATT  were more frequent among TB patients than in controls.