title: Tumor necrosis factor gene polymorphism in chronic sinusitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is likely that genetic factors play a role in the etiology of chronic sinusitis, and airway inflammation is an important pathological feature in chronic sinusitis. We hypothesized that individuals with greater inflammatory responses may be more likely to acquire the disease. Polymorphisms of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) genes have been described, and certain inflammatory diseases are reportedly associated with certain alleles of TNF genes. The purpose of this study is to examine whether there is an association between some alleles of TNF genes and chronic sinusitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight Japanese patients with intractable chronic sinusitis were selected on the basis of the following criteria: 1) persistent mucous or mucopurulent nasal discharge and/or postnasal dripping for longer than 3 years and 2) opacification in bilateral maxillary sinuses and ethmoid cells on plain radiographic films.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta) gene polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with restriction fragment length polymorphisms in these patients and 35 healthy control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher frequency (P < .05) of TNFB*2 allele of TNF-beta gene polymorphism was observed in patients with chronic sinusitis (74%) compared with control subjects (56%). There was no association between alleles of TNF-alpha and chronic sinusitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that TNF-beta gene polymorphism may form a component of the genetic predisposition to chronic sinusitis in Japanese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mie University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Majima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakakura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha