Analysis of TNFα promoter SNPs and the risk of cervical cancer in urban populations of Posadas (Misiones, Argentina).
BACKGROUND
Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a central role in cervical cancer development. However, only a small fraction of infected women develop the disease. Additional risk factors, including SNPs in immune system and cytokine genes, are likely to be important determinants.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the potential role of cytokine TNF-α promoter SNPs (TNFα-375A, TNFα-307A, TNFα-243A, and TNFα-237A) in the development of high-grade cervical lesions and cancer in urban women from Posadas (Misiones, Argentina).


METHODS
Fifty-six cases (CINIII and invasive carcinoma) and 113 age-matched controls were included in the study. HPV genotype detection was conducted by PCR. TNFα SNP genotyping was conducted through PCR amplification and direct sequencing of genomic DNA.


RESULTS
We observed differences in the allelic distribution of TNFα-307A and TNFα-375A SNPs among cases and controls (p<0.05). The TNFα-307A variant was associated with cervical cancer at an OR 2.4 (CI 95% 1.1-5.4), while the TNFα-375A SNP was identified in 8.8% of the controls and none of the cases. Moreover, the TNFα-375A always occurred in association with the TNFα-237A SNP, indicating linkage disequilibrium between them.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that the presence of the high producer allele TNFα-307A is associated with an increased risk for the development of cervical cancer in the Posadas population. We also speculate that the "protective effect" of the TNFα-375A/-237A haplotype, which was restricted to controls, may be related to HLA genes linked on chromosome 6. These findings contribute to our understanding of immune gene variation in an Argentinean population, and its role in disease susceptibility.
Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Quimicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Av. Mariano Moreno 1375, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. inesbadano@yahoo.com.ar
Ines
I
Badano
Silvina M
SM
Stietz
Theodore G
TG
Schurr
Alejandra M
AM
Picconi
Daniel
D
Fekete
Ivana M
IM
Quintero
Maia D E
MD
Cabrera
Rodolfo H
RH
Campos
Javier D
JD
Liotta
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D014505:Urban Population; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha