title: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter polymorphisms in chronic schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alterations in cytokine levels in patients with schizophrenia have been documented. Polymorphisms in these cytokine genes are thus potential genetic markers for schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate four biallelic polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) gene promoter in relation to susceptibility to schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred two patients and 152 control subjects were genotyped and frequencies of genotypes and alleles were compared for the -1031T/C, -863C/A, -857C/T, and -308G/A polymorphisms. Genotype and allele frequencies were compared between controls and patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequencies for the -308 polymorphism (p <.001). Genotype distribution and allele frequencies of the other three polymorphisms were not different between patients and reference controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The -308 polymorphism or another genetic variant in linkage disequilibrium with it could be a susceptibility factor for chronic schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Defense Medical Research Institute, Defense Science and Technology Agency, Republic of, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ene-Choo
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Siow-Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Chay-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yik-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: Kaitian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Rathi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahendran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D012846:Singapore; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha