Toll-like receptor 2 gene polymorphisms in Korean women with human papillomavirus-related cervical neoplasia

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) gene polymorphisms and human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cervical neoplasia in Korean women. Material and methods: Peripheral blood samples collected from 127 patients with HPV-related cervical neoplasia and 175 healthy women were genotyped for the TLR2 −16934, +1350, intron1, and 3′ untranslated region (UTR) polymorphisms using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: The TLR2 −16934 A/A, intron1 A/A, and +1350 T/C genotypes were more frequent in patients than in controls [odds ratio (OR) = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.302–3.475, p = 0.002; OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.168–3.169, p = 0.010; and OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.211–3.123, p = 0.006, respectively]. The frequencies of the TLR2 + 1350 C and 3′UTR G alleles were also higher in patients (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.236–3.121, p = 0.004 and OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.005–3.076, p = 0.046, respectively). The genotype frequencies of TLR2 −16934 A/A and intron1 A/A increased with increasing oncogenic risk of the HPV genotype, as follows. low-risk type < high-risk type < HPV-16 and/or HPV-18 type (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Our study provides the first evidence that TLR2 gene polymorphisms are associated with high-risk type HPV-related cervical neoplasia and may play an important role in susceptibility to HPV infection. Further large-scale and functional studies are needed to confirm the role of TLR2 gene polymorphisms in HPV-related cervical neoplasia.