A rare variant at 11p13 is associated with tuberculosis susceptibility in the Han Chinese population

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have yet to be conducted for tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility in China. Two previously identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from tuberculosis GWASs, rs2057178 and rs4331426, were evaluated for TB predisposition. The associations between SNPs and gene expression levels were analyzed using the genomic data and corresponding whole-genome expression of the Han Chinese in Beijing, China. Genotyping was successfully completed for 763 pulmonary TB patients and 763 healthy controls. The T allele of the rare variant rs2057178 was significantly associated with TB predisposition (χ(2) = 14.07, P = 0.0002). Meanwhile, the CT genotype of rs2057178 was associated with a decreased risk of TB (adjusted OR = 0.52, 95% CI, 0.34–0.78). The CT genotype of rs2057178 was also associated with decreased expression levels of infection-related gene, suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2), and increased expression levels of v-maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B (MAFB). No gene expression levels were found to be associated with the genotype of rs4331426. We found that the rare variant rs2057178 was significantly associated with TB in the Han Chinese population. Moreover, the expression levels of MAFB and SOCS2 correlated with rs2057178 and might be potential candidates for assessing TB susceptibility.