title: Association of -238G/A and -863C/A polymorphisms in the TNF-α gene with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on a meta-analysis.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease; increasing evidence indicates that the TNF-α polymorphism is associated with progression of this disease. Few studies have focused upon association between TNF-α -238G/A or -863C/A polymorphism and COPD risk. Reported associations have been controversial because of small sample size and varied study design among the different studies. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the correlation of these two polymorphisms in the TNF-α gene with COPD risk. A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all published articles on the association between TNF-α -238G/A or -863C/A polymorphism and COPD risk from different databases. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, and the heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Eight articles with 10 eligible studies met our inclusion criteria; six studies were of the -238G/A polymorphism and the others involved the -863C/A polymorphism. In the case of the -863C/A polymorphism, significant association was detected only in Asians in the A allele carriers (GA+AA versus GG genotype) and allele (A versus G allele) model (OR = 0.505, 95%CI = 0.321-0.795 and OR = 0.560, 95%CI = 0.368-0.851, respectively). However, no significant association was detected for the -238G/A polymorphism. No evidence of between-study heterogeneity and publication bias was detected. We suggest a potentially protective role of the A allele in the TNF-α -863C/ A polymorphism against developing COPD in Asians. This hypothesis needs further studies for confirmation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017594:Publication Bias; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha