[Genetic polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with chronic benzene poisoning].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between genetic polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, sites at -238 nt and -308 nt) and susceptibility to chronic benzene poisoning.


METHODS
The polymorphism of TNF-alpha gene were detected by nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique from 50 benzene poisoning patients and 60 control individuals exposed to benzene.


RESULTS
The frequency of the TNF-alpha-238G/G, A/G and A/A in controls (95%, 5% and 0%, respectively), were not significantly different from those in patients (92%, 6% and 2%, respectively, P > 0.05). The frequency of the TNF-alpha-308G/G, A/G and A/A in patients were 76%, 24% and 0% respectively, and that in control individuals were 93%, 7% and 0% respectively. Chi(2) test showed that frequency of TNF-alpha-308A/G in patients was significantly higher than that in controls (chi(2) = 6.22, P = 0.013). Logistic analysis showed that TNF-alpha-308A/G was the independent risk factor of benzene poisoning (OR = 5.3, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with TNF-alpha-308A/G gene polymorphism are susceptible to benzene poisoning.
Lv
Ling
L
Occupational Department, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
Zou
He-jian
HJ
Lin
Guo-wei
GW
Irons
Richard R
RR
D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000506:poisoning*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001554:Benzene