TNF gene polymorphism and its relation to intracerebral production of TNFalpha and TNFbeta in AD.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the extent of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and TNFbeta gene polymorphism in patients with AD and to relate it to intrathecal levels of these cytokines.


METHODS
Analyses of TNFalpha and TNFbeta gene polymorphism were performed using PCR in 52 patients with AD and in 25 control subjects, and the levels of corresponding cytokines were analyzed using ELISA.


RESULTS
Patients with AD displayed significantly higher intrathecal levels of TNFalpha, but not TNFbeta, compared with the control subjects. The levels of these cytokines did not differ significantly in patients displaying different alleles of the TNF gene.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that increased intrathecal production of TNFalpha in AD is preferentially controlled by environmental stimuli rather than genetic makeup.
Tarkowski
E
E
Department of Rheumatology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Liljeroth
A M
AM
Nilsson
A
A
Ricksten
A
A
Davidsson
P
P
Minthon
L
L
Blennow
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016875:tau Proteins