title: Association between tumor necrosis factor-α 308G/A gene polymorphism and silicosis susceptibility: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) 308 G/A gene polymorphism has been reported to be associated with susceptibility to silicosis. However, the relevant study results are still inconsistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A meta-analysis was performed in order to drive a more precise estimation of the relationship between TNF-α-308 G/A gene polymorphism and susceptibility to silicosis. Electronic databases were searched and nine separate studies were included. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence internal (CI) were calculated by a fixed effect model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1267 cases and 1214 controls were included. In the overall analysis, significantly increased silicosis risk was found (for GA+AA vs. GG OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.20-1.760, P=1.58E4; for GA vs. GG: OR=1.53, 95%CI=1.25-1.86, P=3.11E5; for A allele vs. G allele: OR=1.27, 95%CI=1.08-1.50, P= 0.004). In the subgroup analysis, significantly increased silicosis risk was also found among Asians (for GA+AA vs. GG: OR=1.63, 95%CI=1.27-2.08, P=1.01E4), for GA vs. GG: OR=1.71, 95%CI=1.33-2.20, P=3.44E5), for A allele vs. G allele: OR=1.45, 95%CI=1.17-1.80, P=0.001). However, no significantly increased risk was found among non-Asians for all genetic models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism might lead to an increased risk of silicosis susceptibility, especially for Asians. However, further studies with large sample sizes should be conducted to confirm the association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhanzhan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Shipeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lizhang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D003062:Codon; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017594:Publication Bias; D012829:Silicosis / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha