title: Functional study of TNF-α promoter polymorphisms: literature review and meta-analysis.
abstract: The functional consequences of TNF-α promoter SNPs are still controversial and, to date, the functional consequences of TNF-α haplotype combinations in healthy subjects have not been assessed. In order to assess functional consequences of each TNF-α polymorphism and of their haplotype combination, TNF-α expression and secretion by LPS-stimulated monocytes from 50 healthy subjects were assessed. Monocytes were isolated and cultured for four hours, after 100  ng/mL LPS stimulation. mRNA expression was quantified using the real-time polymerase chain reaction, and TNF-α levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Each subject was genotyped for TNF-α -857 C/T, -238 G/A, -308 G/A polymorphisms. In order to confirm definitively the functional consequences of these TNF-α polymorphisms, we then performed a systematic review of the literature for TNF-α SNPs, and then a meta-analysis of the functional studies of the TNF-α -308 G/A SNP. No association between TNF-α mRNA or protein level expression, and TNF-α -238G/A, -308G/A, -857C/T polymorphisms, studied either independently or in haplotype combinations, was revealed. Using a meta-analysis for the TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphism, we confirmed the absence of any association between TNF-α mRNA and protein levels, and TNF-α -308 G/A genotypes. This study and meta-analysis of the literature confirmed the absence of any functional consequences of the TNF-α -308G/A promoter polymorphism, either alone, or in various haplotype combinations in healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Université Paris XI Sud, Inserm U802, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Arsene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mekinian
authors.forename: Ryad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamouza
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pavy
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gestermann
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ittah
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mariette
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miceli-Richard
mesh_terms: D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha