Prevalence of two tumor necrosis factor gene polymorphisms in premature infants with early onset sepsis.
BACKGROUND
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a central mediator of sepsis. The NcoI polymorphism within the TNF locus has been described as a prognostic marker for mortality in adult patients with sepsis.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to investigate the genotype and allele distribution of 2 TNF gene polymorphisms in preterm infants <32 weeks of gestational age, who developed early-onset sepsis.


METHODS
A double-blinded retrospective cohort study was carried out on stored Guthrie blood spot cards with group A including 67 premature infants <32 weeks of gestational age with proven early-onset sepsis and group B including 102 healthy newborn infants (>32 + 0 weeks of gestation). The genotype andallele distribution of the study population were also compared to reference groups of healthy adult volunteers (n = 252 for TNF-beta NcoI and n = 233 for -308 TNF-alpha promoter). Polymorphisms of the TNF-alpha promoter -308 region and the NcoI site of the TNF-beta gene were assessed using PCR followed by melting curve analysis or NcoI digestion. The groups were compared by estimation of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.


RESULTS
The overall allele frequency and genotype distribution of the -308 TNF-alpha and NcoI polymorphism of the TNF-beta gene were comparable to the values found in the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results suggest that none of the analyzed TNF gene polymorphisms may serve as a prognostic marker for preterm infants at high risk of sepsis.
Schueller
A C
AC
Department of Neonatology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Heep
A
A
Kattner
E
E
Kroll
M
M
Wisbauer
M
M
Sander
J
J
Bartmann
P
P
Stuber
F
F
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha