In the present study, we analysed the association between the
incidence of tuberculous spondylitis with the Natural
Resistance Associated Macrophage Protein 1 (NRAMP1,
also known as Solute Carrier Family 11a member1)
polymorphism by studying the genetic segregation of this
polymorphism and the incidence of the disease among
members of the West Javanese population undergoing
surgery for tuberculous spondylitis at our institution. We
compared the distribution of NRAMP1 polymorphism at two
specific sites, namely D543N, and 3’UTR, among subjects
with pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous spondylitis. We
found no significant differences in distribution of
polymorphism between the two groups, or between
pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous spondylitis
compared to healthy subjects. However, a pattern emerged in
that polymorphisms at the two sites seemed to be protective
against development of tuberculous spondylitis in our study
population. We concluded that in the West Javanese
population, there is no association between NRAMP1
polymorphism with the propensity for development of
pulmonary tuberculosis or tuberculous spondylitis. In fact,
NRAMP1 may provide protection against the development
of tuberculous spondylitis.