Polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene in women with preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
We determined whether genetic variability in the gene encoding for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) contributes to individual differences in susceptibility to the development of preeclampsia.


METHODS
The study involved 133 preeclamptic and 115 healthy control pregnant women who were genotyped for C-850T polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene promoter. Chi-square analysis was used to assess genotype and allele frequency differences between preeclamptic women and controls.


RESULTS
A significantly different genotype distribution of C-850T polymorphism was observed between the two groups, with the frequency of the variant T allele being significantly reduced in the preeclamptic group (4.5%) when compared with the control group (9.6%) (P = 0.03; OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.22-0.92). Accordingly, the odds ratio for preeclampsia associated with the pooled TT and CT genotypes was 0.367 (P = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.159-0.847).


CONCLUSIONS
The T allele of the TNF-alpha gene may modify individual preeclampsia risk, being protective against the development of the complication.
Heiskanen
Jaana
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.
Romppanen
Eeva-Liisa
EL
Hiltunen
Mikko
M
Iivonen
Susan
S
Mannermaa
Arto
A
Punnonen
Kari
K
Heinonen
Seppo
S
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004247:DNA