Association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-308 (G-->A) polymorphism and susceptibility to brucellosis.
OBJECTIVE
A critical response against intracellular organisms such as Brucella spp. is production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which enhances the initial response of infected macrophages. Polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene promoter has an effect on the level of TNF-alpha production. Therefore, this study investigated the possible association of G-308A polymorphism of the TNF-alpha gene and susceptibility to brucellosis.


METHODS
Genotyping was performed on DNA extracted from the peripheral leukocytes of 260 patients with brucellosis and 217 healthy control participants using the sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction method.


RESULTS
The TNF-alpha-308(A/A) homozygote was significantly higher in patients than in controls (14.2% vs 5.5%; p = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between the TNF-alpha-308 (A/A) genotype and brucellosis (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.8; p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that TNF-alpha (G-->308A) polymorphism might be involved in susceptibility to brucellosis.
Reza
Jafari-Shakib
JS
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rasht Medical School, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Alireza
Rafiei
R
Mostafa
Ansari
A
Alireza
Khalilian
K
Mehrdad
Hajilooi
H
D002006:Brucellosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha