The tumour necrosis factor-alpha gene nucleotide -308 polymorphism is associated with a moderately increased risk of asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, but not with atopy.
The HLA (human leukocyte antigen) class II genes DQB1 and DRB1 and the Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha gene (TNFA) within the HLA complex (chromosome 6p21) have been associated with asthma and allergy.
Among asthmatic children carrying the TNFalpha -308A allele, there were significantly more patients positive for C. pneumoniae-specific IgG, than among control children carrying the same allele (20.1% versus 9.2% of asthmatic versus control children, respectively; p = 0.002; odds ratio = 3.52 (1.52-7.53); p = 0.005).
The TNF-alpha -863 A allele was associated with reduced odds of developing AD, and the test for trend suggested that having 2 copies of the A allele further reduces the risk (odds ratios [C/C, reference], 0.66 for C/A and 0.58 for A/A; P = .04).
Recently a polymorphism in the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in association with apolipoprotein E (APOE), was reported to increase AD risk.
In the current study TNFA and BAT1 promoter polymorphisms were analysed in AD and control cases and BAT1 mRNA levels were investigated in brain tissue from AD and control cases.
Our results suggested that though TNF-alpha G-238A and G-308A polymorphisms were not involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 DM, type 2 diabetic patients carrying TNFA-A or TNF-308*2 genotype might be more susceptible to diabetic complications such as atherosclerosis.
It was seen that there was a significant association of two polymorphisms in TNF with bladder cancer: the TNF+488A allele was found in 28.1% of patients compared with 14.9% of controls (P=0.0012).
This study suggests that one of the genes responsible for UC may be the TNF gene, or an adjacent gene, and that TNFRSF1B gene polymorphisms contribute greatly to the increased onset risk of CD and to the disease behavior.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-308G/A promoter polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility of polymyositis/dermatomyositis in a Chinese Han population.
Genetically determined imbalance between serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-10 is associated with anti-Jo-1 and anti-Ro52 autoantibodies in patients with poly- and dermatomyositis.