In previous studies, we suggested that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha and its receptor 2 (TNFR2) genes could be associated with the susceptibility to human narcolepsy, and that haplotype carrying DRB1*1502 had a negative association with the disorder.
In addition, the analyses of the relationship of TNFR2 and TNF-alpha with the susceptibility to narcolepsy indicate the possibility that an additive effect on the susceptibility to the disorder lies between TNFR2-196R and TNF-alpha(-857T) alleles.