Tumour necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphisms in asbestos-induced diseases.
BACKGROUND
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha influences the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis and carcinogenesis in normal cells. Polymorphisms of this gene have been suggested to be associated with susceptibility to lung diseases.


METHODS
Association studies were performed in German subjects, using control subjects (n = 177), pulmonary fibrosis patients (n = 612) and bronchial carcinoma patients (n = 374).


RESULTS
Compared with a healthy (control) group, a significant result could be obtained for the asbestosis (patient) group (crude odds ratio (OR(crude)) = 1.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-2.36; p = 0.03), especially with severe lung asbestosis (OR(crude) = 4.15; 95% CI 1.06-16.16; p = 0.04). A significant association was revealed when comparing asbestosis patients (OR(crude) = 4.08; 95% CI 1.53-10.54; p = 0.004 and OR(adjusted) = 3.89; 95% CI 1.49-10.17; p = 0.006) with asbestos-induced lung cancer patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm the hypothesis that TNF-alpha polymorphisms are associated with asbestos-induced fibrotic or malignant lung diseases in Germans.
Helmig
Simone
S
Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Aulweg 129, D-35392 Giessen, Germany. Simone.Helmig@arbmed.med.uni-giessen.de
Aliahmadi
Nahid
N
Schneider
Joachim
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D001194:Asbestos; D002273:Carcinogens; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D002273:Carcinogens; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001194:Asbestos