Association between Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (rs2072493) and Serum Level of TLR-5 and Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-12 Response to Toxoplasma gondii in Women with Miscarriage and Pregnant Women

Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is well-known to cause congenital diseases, or ocular diseases, and miscarriage in pregnancy. Earlier infections are threatening in pregnant women. The activity of Toll-like receptors (TLR) in defense against T. gondii infections was observed such as TLR-5 molecule, and some interleukins (like IL-6, and IL-12) that may lead to abortion.
Objective: To study association between TLR-5 gene polymorphisms (rs2072493) with the susceptibility to toxoplasmosis in a sample of women with miscarriage and to study the association of TLR-5 polymorphisms (rs2072493) with the serum level of TLR-5, IL-6 and IL-12.
Methods: This is a case-control study was conducted on 200 women, of which, 50 pregnant women seropositive (IgG, IgM) for T. gondii (Group1), 50 pregnant women seronegative (IgG, IgM) for T. gondii (Group2) as a control group, 50 women with miscarriage seropositive (IgG, IgM) for T. gondii (Group3), and 50 women with miscarriage seronegative (IgG, IgM) for T. gondii (Group4) as a control group. They were recruited from Balad General Hospital, Salah al-Din and private laboratory in the period from January 2021 to December 2021. The serum level of TLR-5, IL-6 and IL-12 were measured. The selected single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) (rs2072493) in TLR-5 were detected by using real-time polymerase chain reaction with specific primers.
Results: The frequency of the heterozygous genotype (TC) for SNPs TLR-5 gene (rs2072493) was significantly higher in Group1 than Group2 (P=0.004). At allelic level, the frequency of mutant allele (allele C) was significantly higher in Group1 than in Group2 (p=0.009), and in Group3 than in Group4 (P=0.025). There was significant increase in serum level of TLR-5 in Group1 and in Group3. There was significant increase in serum level of IL-6 and IL-12 in Group1.
Conclusion: There is significant association of toxoplasmosis with mutant allele (allele C) of the SNP rs2072493, which may be considered as a risk factor for toxoplasmosis and stimulate miscarriage in pregnant women. TLR-5 level is high in both groups.
Keywords: TLR-5, polymorphism, Toxoplasma gondii, IL-6, IL-12
Citation: Al-Baldawy AN, Al-Marsomy HD, Khaleel II. Association between single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs2072493) and serum level of TLR-5 and interleukin-6 and interleukin-12 response to Toxoplasma gondii in women with miscarriage and pregnant women. Iraqi JMS. 2023; 21(1): 124-134. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.21.1.14