Toll-like receptor 9 and 4 gene polymorphisms in susceptibility and severity of malaria: a meta-analysis of genetic association studies

BACKGROUND: Malaria is still a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and South-east Asia. The clinical presentations of malaria infection vary from a mild febrile illness to life-threatening severe malaria. Toll like receptors (TLRs) are postulated to be involved in the innate immune responses to malaria. Individual studies showed inconclusive findings. This study aimed to assess the role of TLR4 (D299G, T399I) and TLR9 (T1237C, T1486C) in severity or susceptibility of malaria by meta-analysis of data from eligible studies. METHODS: Relevant case–control studies that assessed the association between TLR 4/9 and malaria either in susceptibility or progression were searched in health-related electronic databases. Quality of included studies was evaluated with Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Pooled analyses for specific genetic polymorphisms were done under five genetic models. Stratified analysis was done by age and geographical region (Asian countries vs non-Asian countries). RESULTS: Eleven studies (2716 cases and 2376 controls) from nine endemic countries were identified. Five studies (45.4%) obtained high score in quality assessment. Overall, a significant association between TLR9 (T1486C) and severity of malaria is observed in allele model (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08–1.48, I(2) = 0%) or homozygous model (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.08–2.28, I(2) = 0%). For TLR9 (T1237C), a significant association with severity of malaria is observed in in heterozygous model (OR:1.89, 95% CI: 1.11–3.22, I(2) = 75%). On stratifications, TLR9 (T1486C) is only significantly associated with a subgroup of children of non-Asian countries under allele model (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.02–1.38), while 1237 is with a subgroup of adults from Asian countries under heterozygous model (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.09–3.64, I(2) = 39%). Regarding the susceptibility to malaria, TLR9 (T1237C) is significantly associated only with the children group under recessive model (OR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.06–4.57, I(2=)85%) and homozygous model (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.09–2.0, I(2) = 0%). For TLR4 (D299G, T399I), none is significantly associated with either severity of malaria or susceptibility to malaria under any genetic models. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that TLR 9 (T1486C and T1237C) seems to influence the progression of malaria, under certain genetic models and in specific age group of people from specific geographical region. TLR 9 (T1237C) also plays a role in susceptibility to malaria under certain genetic models and only with children of non-Asian countries. To substantiate these, future well designed studies with larger samples across endemic countries are needed. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-021-03836-6.