Association of TLR8 gene rs3764880 polymorphisms with susceptibility and lipid metabolism- and inflammation response-related quantitative traits of ischemic stroke in southern Chinese Han male population.

Inflammatory response and lipid metabolism influence the development of ischemic stroke (IS). TLRs have an important function in inflammation and lipid metabolism. To investigate association of TLR8 rs3764880 polymorphism with susceptibility of IS and the relationship between rs3764880 with inflammation response- and lipid metabolism-related quantitative traits, we conducted a case-control study in a Han Chinese population comprising 816 cases and 816 controls being matched for age and gender. The distribution of allele of TLR8 rs3764880 had statistical significance in male group (P=0.017). The G allele carrier had a higher level of IL-8 (P=0.001, P=0.004) than the A allele carrier in male cases. Moreover, the rs3764880 genotype was significantly associated with TC (P=0.001, P=0.004) and LDL level (P=0.0002, P=0.0008) in the allele model, and the GG carrier had a higher LDL level (P=0.009, P=0.036) than the AA carrier in male patients. However, no statistically significant association was found between rs3764880 and any IS-related quantitative traits in female patients. Our study also revealed that IL-1b was associated with HDL (P=0.006, P=0.012) in IS patients. Therefore, TLR8 gene rs3764880 polymorphism might be associated with susceptibility and involved in the inflammatory reaction and lipid metabolism of IS in southern Chinese Han.