TNF +489 polymorphism does not contribute to susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if a tumour necrosis factor (TNF +489) polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Two European populations were studied: 217 controls and 238 patients from the north of England and 145 controls and 179 patients from Spain. HLA-DRB1 and TNF +489 markers were typed using polymerase chain reaction based methods.


RESULTS
Strong associations were demonstrated with shared epitope (SE) encoding HLA-DRB1 alleles in the English (OR = 2.9 [2.2-3.9]) and Spanish (OR = 2.3 [1.6-3.3]) populations, however no association was found with TNF +489 alleles. Furthermore carriage of TNF +489A was not associated with the presence of radiological erosions, rheumatoid nodules or rheumatoid factor.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of the TNF locus in the genetic background of RA is unclear, however, our data does not support the previous reported association of the TNF +489A allele with RA susceptibility or severity.
Low
A S
AS
Division of Genomic Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Gonzalez-Gay
M A
MA
Akil
M
M
Amos
R S
RS
Bax
D E
DE
Cannings
C
C
Hajeer
A
A
Till
S H
SH
Winfield
J
J
Ollier
W E
WE
Wilson
A G
AG
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D000939:Epitopes; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D000939:Epitopes; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004247:DNA