title: Associations between TNF-α polymorphisms and pneumonia: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies evaluated the associations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) polymorphisms with pneumonia in different populations. However, the results were conflicting and controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched to find relevant studies. Data were extracted independently by two investigators. Crude odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve case-control studies and one cohort study were included. Overall, no association between TNF-α -308A/G polymorphism and pneumonia risk was observed for AA +AG vs. GG (OR = 1.13; 95% CI 0.99-1.30; P = 0.07). In addition, TNF-α -308A/G polymorphism was not associated with pneumonia mortality (OR = 1.96; 95% CI 0.94-4.09; P = 0.07). Furthermore, there was no association of TNF-α -238A/G polymorphism with the risk of pneumonia (OR = 1.38; 95% CI 0.84-2.28; P = 0.20).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TNF-α -308A/G, -238A/G polymorphisms were not associated with pneumonia risk. Moreover, TNF-α -308A/G polymorphism did not play a role in the pneumonia mortality risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Weifeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weifeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha