Association of Toll-like receptors polymorphisms with the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Abstract Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common hematologic malignancy in children in childhood. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in key molecules of the immune system, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and CD14 molecules, are associated with the development of several diseases. However, their role in ALL is unknown. A case–control study was performed with 152 ALL patients and 187 healthy individuals to investigate the role of SNPs in TLRs and the CD14 gene in ALL. In this study, TLR6 C > T rs5743810 [OR: 3.20, 95% CI: 1.11–9.17, p = 0.003) and TLR9 C > T rs187084 (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.23–4.26, p = 0.000) seems to be a risk for development of ALL. In addition, the TLR1 T > G rs5743618 and TLR6 C > T rs5743810 polymorphisms with protection against death (OR: 0.17, 95% IC: 0.04–0.79, p = 0.008; OR: 0.48, 95% IC: 0.24–0.94, p = 0.031, respectively). Our results show that SNPs in TLRs genes may be involved in the pathogenesis of ALL and may influence clinical prognosis; however, further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of TLR1, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR9 and CD14 polymorphisms in this disease.