TLR4 polymorphisms as potential predictors of atopic dermatitis in Chinese Han children

BACKGROUND: Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of atopic dermatitis (AD). In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between TLR4 gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility or severity of AD among Chinese Han children. METHODS: A total of 132 AD patients and 100 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Four single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (rs19277914, rs11536891, rs7869402, and rs11536889) of the TLR4 gene were genotyped by multiplex PCR combined with next‐generation sequencing. RESULTS: Our results showed that a significantly reduced risk for AD was associated with C allele [p = 0.008; odds ratio (OR) = 0.41, C vs. T], TC genotype (p = 0.022; OR = 0.41, TC vs. TT), and TC + CC genotype (p = 0.010; OR = 0.39, TC + CC vs. TT) of TLR4 rs11536891. The frequency of the haplotype GCCG (rs1927914–rs11536891–rs7869402–rs11536889) in AD patients was lower than that in the controls (p = 0.010; OR = 0.38). Moreover, the results indicated that a higher risk of severe AD was related to the T allele (p = 0.019; OR = 2.97, T vs. C) and the TC genotype (p = 0.021; OR = 3.34, TC vs. CC) of TLR4 rs7869402. A risk haplotype of TLR4 (GTTG) was found in severe AD patients (p = 0.010; OR = 5.26). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that TLR4 rs11536891 polymorphism was associated with the susceptibility to AD in Chinese Han children. And TLR4 rs7869402 might confer the severity of pediatric AD patients.