Relationship between Arg753Gln Toll-like receptor 2 and Asp299Gly Toll-like receptor 4 genetic variations and susceptibility to colorectal cancer in Southern Iran

Abstract

Variations in Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) encoding genes have been associated with tumorigenesis through the disruption of immune and inflammatory responses. The aims of this study were to evaluate the two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the genes Arg753Gln TLR2 (rs5743708) and Asp299Gly TLR4 (rs4986790) in colorectal cancer patients in southern Iran. Colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls were included in this study (150 Persian subjects in each group). Blood samples were used for genotyping by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The association between these SNPs and colorectal cancer and clinicopathological factors, including age, gender, tumor stage and differentiation were also investigated. A significant association was found between Arg753Gln TLR2 SNP and colorectal cancer. This SNP was significantly more frequent in male patients. However, there was no association between Asp299Gly TLR4 and colorectal cancer. Therefore, Arg753Gln TLR2 SNP can be considered as a risk factor for colorectal cancer incidence in southern Iran, especially in men. Further investigations in other populations are recommended in order to assess the association of this SNP with colorectal cancer.