title: The relationship between cytokine gene polymorphism and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion in Saudi females.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationships between unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and single nucleotide polymorphisms tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (-238 G/A, -308 G/A), interleukin (IL)-6 (-634 G/C) and IL-10 (-592 C/A) in the promoter region of 3 different interleukin (TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10) genes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 65 women (mean age: 34.1+/-6.2; range: 15-45 years) with unexplained RSA, consecutively referred to the Recurrent Abortion Clinic, King Khaled University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 2010 to January 2011. The control group consisted of 65 females with at least 2 successful pregnancies and no history of abortion. Blood samples were drawn and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted using Puregene DNA purification kit. Utilizing polymerase chain reaction, the promoter region was amplified and sequenced on an Applied Biosystems Integrated sequencer to study the polymorphic sites of interest. All polymorphisms were identified in the case and control samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant association was identified only between the -308 G/A polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene promoter and the occurrence of unexplained RSA, and there was no significant association with other positions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TNF-alpha gene polymorphism at position -308 could be a genetic predisposing factor for unexplained RSA.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Afrah F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Alkhuriji
authors.forename: Ahmad R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alhimaidi
authors.forename: Zeneb A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Babay
authors.forename: Arjumand S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wary
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10