Meta-Analysis
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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2014; 20(21): 6666-6670
Published online Jun 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i21.6666
Toll-like receptor 4 polymorphisms to determine acute pancreatitis susceptibility and severity: A meta-analysis
Xiao-Jin Zhou, Yan Cui, Li-Yi Cai, Jing-Ying Xiang, Yan Zhang
Xiao-Jin Zhou, Li-Yi Cai, Jing-Ying Xiang, Yan Zhang, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Wuxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, Jiangsu Province, China
Yan Cui, Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Zhou XJ and Zhang Y designed the study, collected and analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; Cui Y and Cai LY collected and analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; Xiang JY contributed to the discussion.
Supported by Joint Research Program of Medical Science and Technology Development Fund of the Medical Control Center in Wuxi City, No. YGZX1204
Correspondence to: Yan Zhang, PhD, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Wuxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 48 Huaishuxiang, Chong’an District, Wuxi 214002, Jiangsu Province, China. 2004zhangshanshi@163.com
Telephone: +86-510-82725161 Fax: +86-51-82725094
Received: November 4, 2013
Revised: January 24, 2014
Accepted: March 4, 2014
Published online: June 7, 2014
Processing time: 213 Days and 19 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the correlation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms and acute pancreatitis (AP) risk and severity.

METHODS: To get a more precise estimation of the relationship, a comprehensive search was performed to examine all the eligible studies of TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms and AP risk. The odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the strength of the association. Publication bias was analyzed by Begg’s funnel plots.

RESULTS: In total, six studies with 1255 cases and 998 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Totally, no significant associations were found between TLR4 Asp299Gly or Thr399Ile polymorphisms and AP risk using five models with high homogeneity (P > 0.05). Furthermore, stratification analysis by ethnicity or assay also found no significant association in these two polymorphisms (P > 0.05), and TLR4 Asp299Gly was not associated with AP severity (P > 0.05). In addition, no publication bias was found in these studies (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Our current meta-analysis suggests that TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms may not be risk factors to AP susceptibility.

Keywords: Toll-like receptor 4; Acute pancreatitis; Risk; Single nucleotide polymorphisms

Core tip: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is one of the central proinflammatory factors in the pathology of acute pancreatitis (AP). Nevertheless, the relationship between TLR4 polymorphisms and AP susceptibility has been controversial. Here, we performed a systematic meta-analysis of TLR4 polymorphisms and AP risk, and our data showed that TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms may not be associated with AP susceptibility.