title: Association of tumour necrosis factor-alpha -308 G/A polymorphism with primary open-angle glaucoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is an important proinflammatory cytokine driving axonal degeneration and retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in glaucoma. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of TNF-α -308 G/A and -238 G/A polymorphisms with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, case-control study, university hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six POAG patients and 193 healthy unrelated controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  TNF-α polymorphisms were screened by using direct gene sequencing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of TNF-α -308 G/A and TNF-α -238 G/A promoter polymorphisms in glaucoma and healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of TNF-α -308 GA genotype and 'A' allele were higher in patients with POAG (22.1% and 12.2%, respectively) in comparison with the control group (10.9% and 6%, respectively) (P = 0.046 and 0.02, respectively), with odds ratios of 2.45 (P = 0.01, 95% CI = 1.23-4.87) and 2.19 (P = 0.013, 95% CI = 1.18-4.08), respectively. Genotype distribution of the TNF-α -238 variants did not yield a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphism seems to be associated with POAG in Turkish population. However, population-based studies with large number of subjects and long-term follow-up are needed to verify the association of TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphism with glaucoma susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Selcuk University, Meram Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey. drbanubozkurt@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Lutfiye
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mesci
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irkec
authors.forename: Burcin B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Ozdag
authors.forename: Ozden
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sanal
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Fugen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ersoy
authors.forename: Ilhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tezcan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha