Latent tuberculosis infection: What we know about its genetic control?

• Published in: Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 94; no. 5; pp. 462 - 468
• Main Authors: Kondratieva, Tatiana, Azhikina, Tatyana, Nikonenko, Boris, Kaprelyants, Arseny, Apt, Alexander
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland 01.09.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Infectious Disease; Latent Tuberculosis - drug therapy; Latent Tuberculosis - genetics; Latent Tuberculosis - immunology; Latent Tuberculosis - microbiology; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - drug effects; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - immunology; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - pathogenicity; Phenotype; Pulmonary/Respiratory; RNA, Untranslated - genetics; RNA, Untranslated - metabolism; Treatment Outcome; Virulence; Latent tuberculosis; Short RNA; Host genetics; Animal models; Treatment; Gene expression
• ISSN: 1472-9792; 1873-281X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2014.06.009

Summary About 90% of all cases of tuberculosis (TB) infection are comprised of latent mycobacterial persistence in the absence of clinical manifestations. In a proportion of latently infected individuals infection eventually reactivates and becomes contagious, seriously influencing epidemiological situation. Mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transition to dormancy and TB reactivation are poorly understood, and biological markers of latency remain largely unknown. Data are accumulating that the dynamical equilibrium between the parasite and the host (expressed as a long term asymptomatic infection) and its abrogation (expressed as a reactivation disease) are genetically controlled by both parties. In this short review, the authors summarize the results of experimental studies on genetic regulation of the latent TB infection.