The Association between Polymorphism of TNF-α Gene and Hypertensive Disorder Complicating Pregnancy

To study whether the development of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy is associated with --308G→A, -850C→T mutation at promoter of TNF-α gene, the --308G→A, --850C→T polymorphism was examined in patients and healthy pregnant women by PCR-RFLP technique. The frequencies of genotype and allele were compared between the two groups. The results showed that with-308G→A polymorphism distribution, the allele frequency of TNF2 and the frequency of the genotype TNF2/1 in the patient group was significantly higher in the patient group than in control group （P〈0.05）. A significant difference in genotype distribution of --850C→T polymorphism was observed between the two groups. The allele frequencies of T in patient group was higher in the control group as compared with the patient group. The frequencies of CT and TT genotypes were lower in the patient group. It is concluded that the TNF2 allele of -308 is associated with the occurrence of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy, while T allele of--850 may be the protective factor against the development of the disease. TNF2/1 CC may be susceptibility genotype of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.

Association of polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter region with outcome of hepatitis B virus infection

AIM： To determine whether -238G/A and -857C/T polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）, gene promoter and hepatitis B （HB） viral genotypes were associated with outcomes of HBV infection. METHODS： A total of 244 HBV self-limited infected subjects, 208 asymptomatic carriers, and 443 chronic HB patients were recruited to conduct a case-control study. TNF-α -238G/A and -857C/T gene promoter polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP）, and HBV genotypes were examined by nested PCR. RESULTS： The positive rate of HBV DNA in asymptomatic carder group and chronic HB group was 46.6% and 49.9%, respectively. HBV genotype proportion among the asymptomatic carriers was 2.1% for genotype A, 25.8% for genotype B, 68.0% for genotype C, and 4.1% for genotype B＋C mixed infection, and 0.9% for genotype A, 21.7% for genotype B, 71.5% for genotype C, 5.9% for genotype B＋C mixed infection in chronic HB group. There was no significant difference in genotype distribution between the asymptomatic carrier group and chronic HB group （X^2 = 1.66, P = 0.647）. The frequency of -238GG genotype in self-limited group was 95.1%, significantly higher than 90.7% in chronic HB group and 89.0% in asymptomatic carrier group （P = 0.041 and P = 0.016, respectively）.The frequency of TNF-α-857 CC in chronic HB group was 79.7%, significantly higher than 64.4% in asymptomatic carrier group and 70.9% in self-limited group （P〈0.001 and P = 0.023, respectively）. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that TNF-α-238GA and -857CC were independently associated with chronic HB after gender and age were adjusted.CONCLUSION： TNF-α promoter variants are likely to play a substantial role in the outcome of HBV infection.

Association of-238G/A and -857C/T Polymorphisms of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Gene Promoter Region With Outcomes of Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Objectives To determine whether -238G/A and -857C/T polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-o0 gene promoter were associated with outcomes of hepatitis B virus infection. Methods A total of 246 HBV self-limited infected subjects and 443 chronic hepatitis B （HB） patients were recruited in this case-control study. TNF-α-238G/A and -857C/T gene promoter polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP）. Results The frequency of TNF-α-238 GG （90.7%） in chronic HB group was significantly lower than that （95.1%） in self-limited group （P=0.041）. The frequency of TNF-oc-857 CC （79.7%） in chronic HB patients was significantly higher than that （70.9%） in self-limited infected subjects （P=0.021）. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that both TNF-oc-238GA and -857CC were independently associated with chronic HB. Conclusions TNF-α promoter variants are likely to play a substantial role in influencing the outcomes of HBV infection.