Correlation of TLR2 Arg677Trp and Arg753Gln polymorphisms with post-treatment serological test positive in syphilis patients

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the Arg677Trp and Arg753Gln polymorphisms in the intracellular signaling region of TLR2 are linked to post-treatment serological test positive in syphilis patients. Methods: PCR-RFLP was used to detect TLR2 Arg677Trp and Arg753Gln polymorphisms in 100 syphilis patients with sero-fixation (group 1), 50 patients with TPPA positive while TRUST negative after syphilis treatment (group 2), and 100 healthy controls. DNA sequencing was used to confirm the diagnosis in case of diagnostic uncertainty. Results: TLR2 Arg677Trp polymorphism was not detected in any of the samples. While only one patient in group 1(1%) displayed TLR2 Arg753Gln polymorphism, proportion of patients with TLR2 Arg753Gln polymorphism was significantly higher in group 2 than in the controls (6/50 vs. 0, χ2=12.50, P<0.01). Conclusions: Neither TLR2 Arg677Trp nor Arg753Gln polymorphisms is associated to syphilis serum fixation. However, TLR2 Arg753Gln polymorphism could be linked to post-treatment TPPA positive and TRUST negative in syphilis patients.

Keywords

• toll-like receptor 2
• genetic polymorphism
• syphilis
• serological test