title: Serum TNF-alpha levels in relation to alcohol consumption and common TNF gene polymorphisms.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mediates alcohol-induced organ dysfunction, including alcoholic hepatitis. Variations in the TNF-alpha gene may underlie the individual predisposition to alcoholic liver disease. Measurement of serum TNF-alpha levels has become a routine in clinical practice. The study was aimed at investigating the level of serum TNF-alpha levels in adults and analyzing its relationship with different levels of alcohol consumption, as well as the potential interaction between alcohol consumption and common TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms in relation to TNF-alpha levels and liver disease. Serum TNF-alpha was measured in a random sample of 459 individuals from a general adult population and in 137 hospital-admitted alcoholics. Three common TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms (-238G> A, -308G> A, and -857C> T) were investigated in 419 of these individuals. In the general adult population, the TNF-alpha levels were similar in alcohol abstainers and alcohol drinkers. Alcoholics admitted to the hospital showed the highest TNF-alpha levels, which were correlated with liver dysfunction. We found no evidence of an interaction between alcohol consumption and TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms in relation to TNF-alpha levels. Carriers of the TNF -238A allele tended to have a higher prevalence of advanced liver disease than -238G homozygotes, confirming previous reports. In conclusion, light-to-moderate drinking had no significant effect on the levels of serum TNF-alpha levels. Serum TNF-alpha levels are elevated in alcoholics independently of common TNF gene polymorphisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. mearturo@usc.es
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Quintela
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loidi
authors.forename: Celsa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quinteiro
authors.forename: Luis-Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gude
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha